Ferris State University students gain valuable work experience through internships. Internships also can confirm or redirect career decision-making, provide marketability, develop people skills and enhance classroom learning. Many academic programs require one, but the experience is encouraged regardless to provide students with a better understanding of what will be expected of them in the workplace.
Many students are participating in myriad internships this summer. Meet:
Bradley Johnson
He is: a Stanwood native, who will begin his senior year of Criminal Justice-Generalist studies this fall.
Bradley’s Internship: “I am working in support of the 77th District Court probation office. That means there are a range of circumstances that a probationer might experience through their contact with our office. I help to support the processing of compliance files and have attended sobriety court sessions, hearings for probation violations and other meetings.”
How Ferris Helped Him Find His Internship: “Criminal Justice students are provided a list of opportunities which included supporting offices in Mecosta County’s government or working with nonprofit agencies like Eagle Village, in Hersey. A number of my classmates are doing internships there. I got in touch with probation officer John Zocco, in early April, and we completed the paperwork for my internship with the department.”
Future Plans: “The work I am doing with probationers now has been a great opportunity. This experience has opened my eyes as to what is possible in the Probation Office, but I am also interested in the field work of law enforcement as I work to complete my Criminal Justice degree.”
Ferris Core Value Bradley Identifies With: Ethical Community. “By what my internship experiences have shown me, I recognize the importance of being supportive of probationers as they seek the appropriate avenue of assistance in their individual case. It is also necessary to be an advocate for their completion of community service work, as the court has required. Some of our clients are at a significant crossroads in their life, so I have focused on our one-to-one communication and my opportunity to offer them some real help with their case.”
Making a Difference in His Internship: “I know that it is important to help our clients stay on task by being current with
their paperwork and meeting the requirements of the court. I have worked closely with
the probation officers in our department as they provide me direction and assistance
in my contacts.”
MEET THE INTERNS HOMEPAGE
PHOTO CAPTION: Stanwood native Bradley Johnson, who is entering his senior year in
Ferris State University’s Criminal Justice-Generalist degree program, is interning
this summer with the 77th District Court Probation Office in the Mecosta County courthouse.