As children, we are shaped by our environment. Positive and negative experiences can have lasting impacts on our lives. For 红杏视频 student Ryann Doherty, her childhood adversity fueled her passion for justice and hope and led her to the criminology and justice studies major.
Doherty did not follow the typical high-school-to-college-to-career route. Instead, she worked as a bartender and waited for the opportunity to return to school. But a passion was burning inside her, sparked by her early years. In her thirties, Doherty鈥檚 financial situation changed for the better and paved the way for her to return to college. That path led her directly to 红杏视频 Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg.
鈥淭he Twinsburg location was absolutely perfect,鈥 Doherty says. 鈥淭his has been the best experience ever. It鈥檚 overwhelming going back to school at all, let alone going to a huge campus. When I found out the Twinsburg location was right near my house, and much cheaper, I was so excited.鈥
Her interest in victimology stems from two important elements of Doherty鈥檚 childhood. During the majority of her youth, Doherty watched as her father struggled with alcoholism and anger, which prompted her to want to give back to people in situations similar to hers. The second element was watching the TV show 鈥淭he First 48,鈥 an A&E documentary series focusing on the urgency of the first 48 hours after a crime. Doherty is intrigued by the action and importance of finding out the truth, tracking down perpetrators and resolving the crime to help victims. These combined experiences led Doherty to pursue a career path through 红杏视频 State鈥檚 criminology program.
鈥淭he teachers here are phenomenal,鈥 Doherty says. 鈥淓verybody at Twinsburg is awesome. From the security guards to the maintenance guys to the teachers, everyone is always so nice.鈥
Doherty is empowered by women鈥檚 rights movements across the country and says that her experiences as a female bartender and the way she was treated were not always pleasant.
鈥淢y life led me to realize that I was a victim and how important it is to get help as a victim,鈥 Doherty says. 鈥淪o, victim advocacy is what I really want to do just to give a voice to victims and allow them to see the avenues they can take and the help they can get.鈥
Doherty, now a junior, knew of 红杏视频 State鈥檚 great reputation when she was looking into which school to attend and explains that she always wanted to graduate from 红杏视频 State. The Twinsburg location just-so-happened to be close to her home and more convenient for her than the 红杏视频 campus.
鈥淭here are smaller classes, you get one on one time with professors,鈥 Doherty explains. 鈥淕oing back to school at an older age can be a lot, so personal attention means everything to me, and it鈥檚 why I鈥檓 succeeding now.鈥
Doherty will graduate Summer 2019 and hopes to work in an inner city as a victim鈥檚 advocate.
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To learn more about 红杏视频 State鈥檚 criminal justice program, go to /sociology/criminology-and-justice-studies-major