ProGuard Security Services Scholarship

Safety should be a basic right, and I believe it’s on all of us to help protect it, whether we’re in uniform or not. That belief started at home. My dad spent his career in law enforcement, so I grew up seeing the real side of public safety. I saw the long hours, the stress, and the responsibility that follows you even when the shift ends. But what stayed with me most wasn’t the job title. It was how he handled people. He never acted like respect was something he automatically deserved. He earned it through the way he spoke to others, how he stayed calm in tense moments, and how seriously he took doing the right thing. Watching him taught me that safety isn’t just about responding when something happens. It’s about prevention, trust, and being steady when others aren’t. As I got older, I stopped seeing safety as just an interest and started building experience around it. I completed a Law and CSI summer program at George Mason University, which gave me a stronger understanding of investigations, procedures, and why details matter. I also volunteer with L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence), where I’ve seen how education and mentorship can change outcomes, especially for younger kids. That work reinforced something I believe strongly: prevention is public safety. If you can reach someone early, give them guidance, and make them feel supported, you can stop problems before they ever start. I’ve also worked to understand safety from an organizational and campus perspective. During my internship with IACLEA (International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators), I learned how campus safety is supported on a wider scale through training resources, policy guidance, and collaboration across agencies and institutions. That experience showed me how much behind-the-scenes work goes into keeping campuses prepared, from planning and communication to consistent standards. Right now, I’m also an unpaid intern with the Montclair State University Police Department. Being in that environment has helped me understand day-to-day public safety in a real setting, including how professionals document incidents, interact with students, and respond in a way that protects people while still treating them with respect. Looking ahead, I see private security playing an even bigger role in the next five to ten years. Security is already a key part of safety in schools, hospitals, businesses, and large public spaces, and I think it will continue to become more professionalized and more integrated into overall operations. Security professionals will need strong training, good judgment, and a clear understanding of privacy and ethics. Technology helps, but it doesn’t replace the human part of the job, especially when it comes to communication and de-escalation. The positive impact I want to make in the security field comes down to prevention, professionalism, and trust. I want to be the kind of person people feel comfortable approaching before a situation becomes a crisis. A lot of problems can be reduced when someone takes concerns seriously, communicates clearly, and knows how to calm a situation instead of escalating it. I also want to support higher standards in training, especially around de-escalation, customer service, and working with diverse populations. Safety should not feel like intimidation. It should feel like structure, fairness, and accountability. In my community, I plan to keep giving back through mentorship. I’ve spent years teaching martial arts to younger students, and that experience has taught me that public safety starts with confidence and self-control. Helping kids build discipline and direction is part of keeping communities safer. I want to continue working with youth programs and community partnerships that give young people positive outlets and support. This scholarship would help me take the next step by easing the financial pressure of school and allowing me to keep building real experience in the field. My goal is to graduate with more than just a degree. I want hands-on exposure, professional development, and training opportunities that prepare me for modern safety challenges, including the growing role of private security. This support would help me stay focused on my education, continue internships like the one I have now, and move closer to a career where I can protect others, build trust, and help create safer environments for everyone.