As a third-grader, Brandon Blood dressed up as a fish-and-game officer for a career-day program at his grade school. Ever since, he鈥檚 thought about pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Now at age 22, he鈥檚 on the cusp of making that happen thanks to 海角乱伦. After transferring to Great Bay two years ago, Blood graduates this month with an associate degree in Criminal Justice and a certificate in Homeland Security.
鈥淢y goal is to work in a local police department or sheriff鈥檚 office. Working as a fish-and-game officer would be great, too,鈥� said Blood, who lives in Stratham and completed an internship with the Somersworth Police Department.
Blood鈥檚 success story is a testament to the benefits of a community college education. He was drawn to Great Bay鈥檚 affordability, flexibility, and its promise of small class sizes. He thrived once he arrived.
But it wasn鈥檛 his first choice. After graduating from high school, he started his college experience at a small four-year college in the Adirondack Mountains region of New York. He enjoyed the one year he spent there, but it was too far from home鈥攁nd expensive. He returned to New Hampshire and enrolled in a large state university. That didn鈥檛 work out, either. After one semester, he transferred to Great Bay.
鈥淚t was too big and too expensive. I had to take out a massive loan, and it just wasn鈥檛 right for me,鈥� he said. 鈥淧eople told me about Great Bay, and when I looked into it, I saw they offered a degree in Criminal Justice. That really interested me.鈥�
He began taking classes in 2023. His advisor arranged for the transfer of his transcripts from high school and both colleges and helped him pick his classes. 鈥淭here was no stress at all,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was so easy.鈥�
Unlike at the other schools, at Great Bay he didn鈥檛 have any loans to pay back. 鈥淚 was able to pay as I go, semester by semester,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd unlike any other courses I have taken in college, at Great Bay nearly all my classes allowed me to attend either in person, remotely, or 100-percent online. It was very flexible, which allowed me to work full time while I was going to school.鈥�
The best part, all his professors had real-world experience, and nearly all of them were working in the field while teaching at Great Bay. 鈥淚t was very nice to know they are coming directly from their work in law enforcement to teach you what they just saw that day. They鈥檙e not just reading from a slideshow, they are sharing their own stories and experiences and discussing the topics based on their experiences. It鈥檚 nice to know that you are not learning from a textbook, but from their actual experiences in the field.鈥�
Blood especially appreciated the one-on-one attention offered by professor聽Eric Kulberg, Chair of the Criminal Justice Department. 鈥淗e鈥檚 thorough and fair, and he treats you like a friend. He guides you through the classes, helps with internships, and is always available to answer questions. He is one of the top professors I have ever had,鈥� he said.