A Passion to Serve Others

When you hear the term “family business,” you often think of a small business or a place that is run by a family. For Yazmine Brito, a student in the Criminal Justice program, that family business is in law enforcement.

“What made me decide was my mom in Mexico. She was in law enforcement, and so was my grandma. She was a police officer in Mexico,” Brito said. “I have always seen it and thought it was cool.”

The program at the Peoria Campus is not one of law theory; students begin each day with physical training. While most people do not look forward to starting their day with a three-mile run, Brito says it is a nice change.

“It is amazing you are getting physical training, not textbooks,” she said. “There is a lot of this career that is physically demanding, so you have to be ready.”

A unique aspect of the program is the partnership with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO). Now in its third year, the program has seen more than 30 students become detention officers.

“Since we started, sheriff’s offices from across Oklahoma have called looking to set up this type of training,” Michael Brown, Tulsa Tech Criminal Justice Instructor, said. “As far as I know, this is the first program of its kind in the nation.”

For Brito, it is a significant first step on her journey.

“I plan to start as a detention officer and then go onto college and study criminal justice,” Brito said with a smile. “From there, I want to continue learning and become an F.B.I. agent.”

Despite the similarities to her mom and grandmother, Brito is adamant this is her choice.

“I would not say a legacy. I am not doing it because they are doing it, but it is something that I genuinely want to do,” she said. “I want to serve others, ensure the world is safe, and be an example for my siblings.”

With her goals before her, she says her Tulsa Tech instructors are a huge benefit.

“What I am doing here is following my dreams,” she said. “I want others to know they can do whatever they want and follow their dreams, like me.”