December 17, 2024 • 23 mins
Jared Alexander, the 2024 Winter Commencement President's Award winner for the Humanities, Business, and Social Sciences division, is no stranger to the RCBC community. His father, Jonathan Alexander, the late professor of English literature and Holocaust studies at RCBC, touched many lives in Laurel Hall, where HBSS resides. Those same hallways are where Jared found his passion for Criminal Justice, thanks to incredibly inspiring professors who led him on this incredible journey, and he shares those stories with us.
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Jason Varga (00:01):
Welcome to the program pod, a national award
winning program on the RCBCPodcast Network which takes a
deep dive into the programsoffered at rcbc through
different perspectives ofstudents, faculty and employers.
All right, just like that, wehave another president award
winner here for the secondannual Winter Commencement here
at rcbc, something that westarted doing last year. Hence,
(00:22):
obviously the second one, butit's a time to, you know,
celebrate some of the studentsthat are ready to graduate now
and don't have to wait until theMay commencement. And now coming
up, we have Jared Alexander,who's going to be speaking in
front of his peers for what usedto be called liberal arts, but
now humanities, business andsocial sciences. Jared, how you
doing? I'm all right. Jay,thanks for having me. Yeah. How
(00:45):
you feeling? You ready for, youknow, ready to speak in front of
your peers?
Jared Alexander (00:47):
Yeah. So the nerves are, nerves are
definitely up. I shouldn't haveworn gray today because I'm
sweating, you know, I'm lookingforward to tomorrow and nervous
for a while, but days finallycome, and I even have winter
classes, so I'm still instudies, grinding right
Jason Varga (01:01):
through, yes, yeah. They just started up too, right?
Like, yeah, yeah, right, yeah.You got a lot kind of going on,
plus the holidays and there'sall other stuff that's kind of
going on here. You know,obviously, some of the I think
you're, you're fine listening toyour speech. You're crushing it.
You're nice motivationalspeaker. It sounds like, you
know, you got some practice runsin there, but once you get
going, you can't even see thecrowd. The hardest part, as we
were just talking about it with,you know, when Wilkins on the
(01:23):
show here is getting used toyour voice bouncing around in
the actual auditorium itself.Once you get adjusted to that,
you know, you'll crush itthrough. What actually made you
choose that you wanted to, youknow, apply for the President's
Award winner and Gowanda win.
Jared Alexander (01:36):
So as, as some of the people here know, my
father worked here at rcbc for25 years. So as I was a kid, I
knew that I wanted to go tocommunity college. You're John
son. I am loved your dad, yes.So Jonathan, Alex, oh yeah. It's
absolute pleasure meeting,meeting the people that had my
(01:58):
father as a teacher. I knowBaja, the Health Sciences
speaker, said that she had himfor English, you know, the year
before he passed away. But hedid pass away this past April.
So these last couple months havebeen, you know, definitely
troubling, but I've continued topush through. I do work full
time in a restaurant. I'm amanager, so I manage a team of
(02:21):
15 people under me. You know,that's definitely troubling at
times, but studies, studiesthroughout, throughout, I
haven't taken a semester off intwo and a half years. Summer and
Winter, I've been taking classesconsistently, so absolutely no
breaks at all. But I did get anemail early in the fall saying,
you know, you could apply to bethe student speaker. And there
(02:43):
was the, you know, the honorthat comes with it, and the
rehearsals and meeting all theadministrators. And I was like,
You know what, someone like meis never going to get the
opportunity, but I applied. Sofilled out the Google Form. I
was looking forward to it. I,you know, drafted a speech, you
know, thinking that if theopportunity ever arose that, you
know, I would have somethingready, and next thing I know,
(03:04):
they, they responded to me,saying that I was a finalist. So
I was one of two people chosenfor my liberal arts section,
humanities, business and socialscientists. HBS, you know, I'm
still I'm still working. We allare, yeah, but I mean,
especially because my father wasan English professor. I mean,
the liberal arts phrase has beenengraved. That's a weird switch
(03:27):
over. But yeah, so I did apply.I got called in to be a
finalist, and I have to say, mynerves were 10 times more doing
that interview with all theadministrators than it will be
tomorrow up on the stage. I'massuming, yeah,
Jason Varga (03:41):
no, you look at No, I imagine that. And you know,
that should be the speech partshould be a lot easier. You got
Pat. You got through the hardestpart. And that's, that's words
of encouragement for you too. Soyou did like the heavy lifting
already,
Unknown (03:54):
yes, but you know, I, once I did that interview, I
realized that this was actuallysomething that I really wanted.
I had told myself that the honorand opportunity in of itself of
being able to speak at the placethat my dad had put so much of
his effort and influence in forso many years of his life, you
(04:15):
know, I think I will carry thatwith me for the rest of my life,
and I even say in my speechthat, you know, it's what we
carry in us that will reallydefine who we become, and our
story and our the trauma won'tdefine who we are, but it is
something that will hold with usthe rest of our life. So I hope
(04:37):
that not only does a speech gowell tomorrow, but I hope that I
will remember it for the rest ofmy life, because the honor and
opportunity of being able to getup there and address my fellow
graduates and all the peoplethat have worked with my father
over the last couple years issomething that I'm especially
proud of myself. And again, Inever thought that I would be
the one to pick it my, you know,my GPA is, you know, not near.
(05:00):
Perfect. I think I have, like, a3.8 as well, but I'm super
passionate about my criminaljustice studies. I really enjoy
it, and I've realized thatstaying motivated in class and
having such awesome professorsis really something to you know,
keep me pushing. And this speechis something that I will
remember the rest of my life, mycriminal justice. It was
(05:21):
actually written in the articlethat I was influenced by my mom
as a lawyer. She read that, andshe was like, You're not
influenced by me. My mom is anonprofit elder law attorney for
Philadelphia, so, you know,that's an incredibly hard job,
and I've seen all the ins andouts of it, but it's affected
her, you know, in some ways thatyou know, she should be proud of
(05:41):
but it's definitely taken atoll. You know, being a non
profit lawyer in that city, butit has influenced me being grown
up. My parents were divorcedwhen I was younger, so I lived
with my my single mom. And, youknow, I've seen the ins and outs
and the long hours of the day,and you know how much of an
impact she really made, but, butthe thing is, she never was
(06:02):
proud of herself. She was neverhappy that she made the changes
in people's lives that she did.And you know, that took a toll
on me. So I tell her all thetime that she's making a great
impact. But you know, her job,her job is not easy, and they're
going through a lot of changes,especially for such a large city
like that, but it did definitelyspark my interest and curiosity
(06:23):
in the criminal justice field.She went to law school and tells
me about it, and I do not wantto go to law school, at least of
right now, I hope that I can geta career started and then
hopefully go back to school inmy 20s, if I choose to do so,
but the criminal justice fieldis something that I've realized
I'm especially interested in,and as opposed to health
(06:48):
sciences or stem the criminaljustice classes that I've taken
are such a breeze for me. Theygo by super quick. Not only have
the professor shown me that, youknow, a true, great professor
can make the class, you know,all the difference. But I'm just
especially interested in thisfield of study. And again, my
(07:09):
professors, Dr C and ProfessorRizzo, that I have are so
Jason Varga (07:13):
I'm not going to cut you off, because I feel like
you know you're looking over myshoulder and asking my
questions, right? Because youalready started with the quotes.
And I like to ask, you know, whoare some of their paper
professors, but as soon as yousaid criminal justice, I already
knew you're gonna go right withProfessor Rizzo and Professor C
Amber sekonti, because Iactually had the one before he
started doing this podcastnetwork. Also one of the
prestigious things about beingpresident's award winner, get to
(07:35):
be on this cool, national awardwinning podcast, right? But
before we had that built, I hadthe internet radio station,
which was, we were located inupstairs in Laurel Hall, which
is, you know, over liberalagain, humanities, Business,
Social Sciences, is located allthe time. However, the podcast
studio, or the internet radiostudio was right in the criminal
justice wing, right there in303, so I got to connect with
(07:57):
Professor Rizzo and Amber, likeall the time. And got to
realize, when you said, reallygreat professors really make
class. And I know them, becauseI see it all the time, students
coming in just to hang out withthem. You know they're going out
of their way, which is a tellingmoment for those professors,
right? But then I know how muchthey care, and even when they're
talking about it, never talkingbad about the students or
complaining or anything likethat. They're they're more
(08:19):
excited about trying to get themout there in the field and doing
like all this stuff. And I seewhat they kind of put into like
that energy, and I'm glad youknow you got to experience that.
Yeah,
Unknown (08:28):
they take absolute pride in their jobs here as
influencers, I would call them.And you know, I realized that
they're absolutely selfless.They don't talk, you know, much
about themselves, and they pourabsolutely everything they can
into bettering their students.Yep,
Jason Varga (08:44):
they will. They will pull all their connections
to like to make sure. I mean,look, you have to put the work
in, like they it's criminaljustice too, right? Like they
show you, like you can't be lateto class, you can't be doing
this stuff, like you're goinginto law enforcement of some
sorts, right? So you have a verystructured routine, but they're
preparing you for that, but youshow them that you have that
dedication, they're going to dotheir absolute best to get you,
(09:05):
you know, connected to whatever.And I had Professor Rizzo on
this podcast before talkingabout the criminal justice major
and all the connections,because, you know, he comes from
the corrections facility in thatthat world, and where comes
from. You know, Professor C alsocomes from actual other side of
law enforcement, but they knoweverybody. And then, you know,
did you go to the careerenforcement day or whatever that
(09:27):
we had? Yes. So you saw, likethey pretty much had every
potential, you know,organization in Browns county
here, and then some right? Sowell connected. But again, it's
but they're always out lookingfor their students, and they
will get you to where you wantto be, as long as you're willing
to
Unknown (09:41):
put that drive in. They're great at networking. And
also the fact that they'readjuncts for Rowan University,
and we'll be teaching the youknow, the fourth year. I just
absolutely so grateful to havethem all four years here, here
in my career, here at rcbc, andagain, having such a diverse
experience between them two,having him being the one. In of
the New Jersey State Prison, andthen her being such a impactful
(10:05):
and intelligent, you know,Detective for willing Barrow,
and then such a meaningfulteacher, and the fact that
they've gone out of their wayto, you know, take care of me
and knew my father as well. It'sjust so incredibly inspiring and
motivating. And I I actuallyremember my first semester here.
I did talk about in my speechthat my first ever class was
(10:26):
online with Dr C criminaljustice, 101, but my first
semester in person with them, Ihad risen my hands and said to
them, or said to ProfessorRizzo, I said, You know what?
I'm just so unbelievably, youknow, motivated here, sitting in
class like I don't want toleave. Can we do another hour of
you talking? Because he he hadshown me that the the previous
(10:49):
learning themes that I had, youknow, had in high school, were
not necessarily for me, and hehad taken a more personable
approach telling stories of hisown, and comparisons to to a
bunch of, you know, traumaticand inspiring memories that he
had working in a very dangerousand eye opening position. And
(11:14):
then Dr C, you know, I'vealways, you know, wanted to be a
cop, maybe not today and thisworld that we're growing up in.
But she had, she had really puteveryone else first, and
dedicated so much of herself tothat job. And you could see it
made an impact. And not onlywilling borough as, you know, as
a place, but each of herstudents, you know, I came from
(11:35):
Camden County. I've never evenstepped foot in willing borough,
you know, but I do know whatit's like. And her coming in
here to rcbc and teaching us insuch a selfless and a gentle,
gentle way, had you know, youwould have never guessed that
she's a she's a police officer,but, but she has put so many
people before her and changedher teaching style to you know,
(11:59):
over these years, of, you know,influencing so many people to
take that path that, you know,it does make me think that I
could do it if I wanted to. AndI think that's what makes them
such awesome professors. Yeah,
Jason Varga (12:11):
I love it. And they got you to where you are today,
you know. And now, now you'reoff to the next chapter, which,
again, my next question, whichyou already pretty much
answered, going off the rowing,right? So we can be doing some
of that stuff. So, so you saidyou didn't want to be a cop yet
today, do you have a specificpart or path of criminal justice
that you're honing in on?
Unknown (12:30):
So a lot of people ask that. And again, my mom being a
lawyer. You know, everyone says,right away, you know, do you
want to go to law school? And myanswer to that is, no, right
because, because, right now, Iwant to get out there. I want to
get out in the field. And, youknow, feel for it. Yeah, school,
school wasn't necessarily mybiggest strong suit again, until
I sat in these classes andrealized that the professor made
the difference. But I don'tnecessarily want to go to law
(12:54):
school. I'm going to continueanother two years here at rcbc
and then graduate with mybachelor's in Law and Justice
Studies. I am going to graduatewith a certificate of
undergraduate study and ethicsand a minor in psychology.
Jason Varga (13:07):
You are busy,
Unknown (13:11):
but this path that I want to take again, everyone
asked me what I want to do? Theanswer that I give them is fraud
investigation. I think that youknow, we know everyone that has
fallen, you know, victims tofraud and the uptake, and, you
know, cyber crimes that we'reseeing, especially financial
crimes, it will, you know,continue to rise, and I think
(13:32):
that I could make a hugedifference in that field.
However, there are so manybranches to criminal justice
that a lot of people are notfamiliar with, whether that be
animal cruelty investigation,fraud investigation, insurance
fraud, whatever that be. Soright now, I don't want to be a
private investigator, I don'twant to be a cop, I don't want
to be a corrections officer. Idon't want to be anything, but I
(13:54):
want to be at all at the sametime. So I'm hoping that over
these next two years, especiallyneeding a field placement and an
internship my my senior yearhere at rcbc, I'll be able to
get a better feel for what pathand what branch I really want
to, want to fall into. Butinvestigations, field
investigations, and especiallyhelping the victims of insurance
(14:15):
fraud and medical fraud andfinancial crimes has been a big
passion of mine that my classeshere have really taught me, and
I'm hoping as I get into the 300level classes this year, I'll be
able to get a better feel of,you know, what I'm really best
at, whether that be analytics orfield
Jason Varga (14:33):
investigations. Yeah, you'll it's just like, you
know, I want to say that's abeautiful thing about, you know,
starting out at communitycollege and then going off the
four year universities, orwhenever you're going off the
school and stuff, or just maybelife in general, you figure it
out as you go right, and youstart to know what kind of
clicks. And eventually, youknow, deep down, this isn't for
me right, or I want to trysomething else out, or some kind
(14:53):
of experience comes along theway that sets you on a different
type of path right, or continuesto drive down where you're going
with the broad INVISTA. Asian,but maybe there's something,
like, some kind of story,because what happened? Why? Why?
In that actual story, thatinvestigation, something might
have sparked it that maybetakes, you know, like, a little
bit somewhere else. You just letit happen as it happens, right?
But, you know, part of isgetting that experience and
stuff, but it's nice to see youalready have, like, some of that
(15:14):
focus. You go out there and tryit, and maybe that's you, maybe
it's not. But you know, youdon't have to always, you know,
everything be you know, this iswhat I'm going to do, and it's
going to continue to set out todo, right? Just letting nature
take its course. For lack ofgood share, I
Unknown (15:28):
found, I found a lot of upward mobility in the company
that I'm in now, and that showedme that the good company,
really, again, makes all thedifference and will spark a
career. However, I had toldmyself for a while that I don't
want to settle early, because,you know, I'm turning 20 in two
months, and I have so much timethat, you know, I want to use
(15:49):
all of my 20s to really figureout what I'm best at and what
I'm going to enjoy doing. Youknow, of course, I'm looking at
the lucrative aspect of it too,and you're financially stable,
absolutely, especially in a joblike this, because, again,
there's so many fields and, youknow, people are, you know, say
lawyers make a lot of money, butagain, nonprofit lawyers and big
city lawyers and people thatmake, I think, the truest
(16:10):
difference don't get compensatedin the way that they deserve.
Jason Varga (16:13):
No, there's, it's almost like a teacher sometimes
too. It's like, you know, youget an x salary, but it's all
that overtime and other stuffthat kind of goes into all that
stuff. Or like, my, you know, mybrother in law's in the banking
makes great money, hates his jobbecause he's working way too
much, doesn't see his family andstuff too. So there's like that,
that balance. But you'll figureagain, you'll figure it out, as
you go, always say, because, youknow, you got your, your young
on my side, because I rememberit's like, I feel like I was
(16:35):
just kind of like in college,but now I got my white beards
going on, maybe more from like,my daughter, my wife, calls him
a little bit more of the whitebeard in there, but it goes by
quickly, right? So embrace it,but don't be in such a rush to
get to the next parts. Yes, youknow, take each again. It's on
the cliche thing, but it's justlike, just take every moment as
it comes, all right, and don'tbe in such a rush to get to
(16:57):
where you're at and just get allthat knowledge base, but always
continue to learn too, right?Again, don't when you're at your
20s and you see that stuff, I'malways trying to continue to
learn. I mean, now Mine's kindof shifted more towards, you
know, landscaping and gardening,other things outside of, you
know, web, it and podcasting andstuff. But it's just because,
like, I don't know, I'm that atype personality or whatever it
(17:19):
is. All right, we're gonna wrapit up almost, because I got, you
know, I'm gonna speak withanother President's Award
winner. But, you know, I don'tthink you're gonna have so much
interview questions, because youmight when you get into, you
know, into your career field,but I'm gonna try preparing in
case you do have some of theseinterview questions I got to ask
Wilkins too. I'll kind of set upin a different theme of sorts.
(17:40):
So now you're some kind of, youknow, fraud investigator, or
whatever. You're walking up tothe crime scene stuff. What does
Mr. Alexander when he walks uponto that crime scene just
represent his aura. He's like,I'm here. I'm about to take
that's a
Unknown (17:53):
hard question. That's a hard question, putting me on the
spot. Yeah. See, you know,everyone always asks me what
bands I'm into. And I say, youknow, what I like the songs. I
add them to my playlist, and Idon't pay too much attention to
political answer, yeah, I'm ahuge Billy Joel fan. Okay, I
love Billy Joel. I think theentertainer is a great upbeat
song, but maybe not the best forwalking up to a crime scene. So
(18:14):
I can't give you an answer forthat, but you know, we'll go
over my playlist one day I'llhave to do a entering crime
scene playlist from when Ifinally get there. Okay,
Jason Varga (18:25):
well, just think about it. It would be something
cool. Have that little, I don'tknow, not Miami Vice kind of
vibe going on, but all right,how about a little bit of a
heavier question, something moreserious. Okay, what is your
theory on Bigfoot?
Unknown (18:39):
Oh, call me off guard. You're so led you into that trap
there. Just this past semester,my human services professor
actually said she grew up inAppalachia. She talked a lot
about, you know, how you justdon't question it. So I'm gonna,
I'm gonna go with that. Okay, Idon't want to put a theory out
there and, you know, get it, getit turned on me. But I think
there's a lot out there that weare unfamiliar with and have yet
(19:03):
to learn, but especially with
Jason Varga (19:05):
all these drones going on here in Jersey right
over my house all the time. Soit's like, is it aliens? No, I
don't think so. But yeah, okay,um, that's a whole other another
subject. One last questionbefore I get into the your
parting words, because you'rewearing an eagle shirt, how do
you feel about this year?
Unknown (19:22):
Great, yeah, great. You know, total, total Phillies fan.
It's nice to see, you know,
Jason Varga (19:28):
not to cut you off. But did you ever talk baseball
with Professor Rizzo? Nojustice, no no next time. Bring
up baseball to him next time.And that's a whole nother hour
session itself. Yeah, he's ahuge baseball guy.
Unknown (19:39):
I played baseball as a kid, and I actually do a adult
rec softball, okay, in the inthe springs and summers. Okay?
So I look forward to thatstarting back up a huge baseball
guy, that's my sport, and eaglesare absolutely killing it this
year. So I hope that we can makeit past the playoffs, and
hopefully in the spring, whenbaseball starts up again, we'll
see playoffs. Picture in thefall. I would love it. I would
(20:02):
absolutely love it. I thinkjersey, with all these drones
and everything, we could all useyou do
Jason Varga (20:06):
something, he's a win. You know, it's kind of
crazy, all right, so you kind ofalready alluded to it, and in
the beginning of littlequestionnaire here, a little
interview session. You know, youhad some parting words. You kind
of bring it up a little bit intoyour speech. But you know, for
something, for this, for thisshow, that you want to impart
some kind of inspiration or alittle wisdom to your fellow
peers, or anybody listening tothis, not necessarily getting
(20:28):
into, you know, criminaljustice, but just anything in
life you can floor is yours,just any parting words.
Unknown (20:35):
So what I, what I try to tell myself, especially you
know, being so young, is thatthere's, there's a whole lot to
be discovered out there, and ifyou don't give yourself the
chance to get out there, then itwon't be discovered. And I think
that lack of fulfillment willwill haunt you more than more
than you think. So what I tellmyself is that, you know, the
(20:58):
days are not easy, and you know,again, this this year has been
very troublesome for me and myfamily, but I've continued
pushing through it. My studiesand my workload have not
dwindled at all, so I'vecontinued to put those in, those
people first. But I again, I dohope that my whole 20s, my whole
decade of being in my 20s, Ihave a lot to learn. I'm hoping,
(21:21):
one, that I'll make it to my30s, and two, that I'll be able
to get a place for myself, andhopefully me and my girlfriend,
and settle down. And although Idon't want to settle with the
company, I am hoping that I'llbe able to find the state in the
country that I find mostcomfortable, because I think
that New England is calling myname okay. And I am hoping that
(21:42):
I'll be able to find a job thatis fulfilling and impactful and
rewarding. And I'm hoping thatin the end, I will realize that
what it is that makes me happyis anything that I want, there
you go. So I want to be able togo out there and find it all and
take care of myself and thepeople that have proven to take
(22:04):
care of me, and in the end, whatwe've been through as a child
will definitely hold with us therest of our life, but your life
is open to interpretation, andthere's a lot, a lot, lot, lot
out there that you have thepower to change. So don't when
don't dwell over the things thatyou cannot change, and keep it
pushing
Jason Varga (22:25):
absolutely my party words for you is, be careful
wearing your Eagles or PhillyWell, patriots aren't doing so
well. So, yeah, no, but it'sstill Philly Boston kind of
like, uh, oil and water of sortstoo. So
Unknown (22:38):
Well, where I work, there's a lot of Mets and
Patriots fans, so I bless you. Ihear it all. You're
Jason Varga (22:44):
kinda already conditioned for it. Yes. All
right, Jared, again, congrats onyou know, being this year's
recipient for the second annual,uh, winter commencement, getting
ready to speak in front of thehumanities, Business and Social
Sciences classes. We pulled someof your clips from your actual
speech off of YouTube, which,again, we'll be streaming live
on our YouTube channel, as wellas rcbc.edu, but Jared, again, I
(23:04):
know you're going to crush itout there and in the real world
and everything else. I'm lookingforward to seeing you tomorrow.
So go rest up and you know,thanks for coming on the show.
All right.
Unknown (23:12):
Thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure you
got.
Welcome to the program pod, a national award
winning program on the RCBCPodcast Network which takes a
deep dive into the programsoffered at rcbc through
different perspectives ofstudents, faculty and employers.
All right, just like that, wehave another president award
winner here for the secondannual Winter Commencement here
at rcbc, something that westarted doing last year. Hence,
(00:22):
obviously the second one, butit's a time to, you know,
celebrate some of the studentsthat are ready to graduate now
and don't have to wait until theMay commencement. And now coming
up, we have Jared Alexander,who's going to be speaking in
front of his peers for what usedto be called liberal arts, but
now humanities, business andsocial sciences. Jared, how you
doing? I'm all right. Jay,thanks for having me. Yeah. How
(00:45):
you feeling? You ready for, youknow, ready to speak in front of
your peers?
Jared Alexander (00:47):
Yeah. So the nerves are, nerves are
definitely up. I shouldn't haveworn gray today because I'm
sweating, you know, I'm lookingforward to tomorrow and nervous
for a while, but days finallycome, and I even have winter
classes, so I'm still instudies, grinding right
Jason Varga (01:01):
through, yes, yeah. They just started up too, right?
Like, yeah, yeah, right, yeah.You got a lot kind of going on,
plus the holidays and there'sall other stuff that's kind of
going on here. You know,obviously, some of the I think
you're, you're fine listening toyour speech. You're crushing it.
You're nice motivationalspeaker. It sounds like, you
know, you got some practice runsin there, but once you get
going, you can't even see thecrowd. The hardest part, as we
were just talking about it with,you know, when Wilkins on the
(01:23):
show here is getting used toyour voice bouncing around in
the actual auditorium itself.Once you get adjusted to that,
you know, you'll crush itthrough. What actually made you
choose that you wanted to, youknow, apply for the President's
Award winner and Gowanda win.
Jared Alexander (01:36):
So as, as some of the people here know, my
father worked here at rcbc for25 years. So as I was a kid, I
knew that I wanted to go tocommunity college. You're John
son. I am loved your dad, yes.So Jonathan, Alex, oh yeah. It's
absolute pleasure meeting,meeting the people that had my
(01:58):
father as a teacher. I knowBaja, the Health Sciences
speaker, said that she had himfor English, you know, the year
before he passed away. But hedid pass away this past April.
So these last couple months havebeen, you know, definitely
troubling, but I've continued topush through. I do work full
time in a restaurant. I'm amanager, so I manage a team of
(02:21):
15 people under me. You know,that's definitely troubling at
times, but studies, studiesthroughout, throughout, I
haven't taken a semester off intwo and a half years. Summer and
Winter, I've been taking classesconsistently, so absolutely no
breaks at all. But I did get anemail early in the fall saying,
you know, you could apply to bethe student speaker. And there
(02:43):
was the, you know, the honorthat comes with it, and the
rehearsals and meeting all theadministrators. And I was like,
You know what, someone like meis never going to get the
opportunity, but I applied. Sofilled out the Google Form. I
was looking forward to it. I,you know, drafted a speech, you
know, thinking that if theopportunity ever arose that, you
know, I would have somethingready, and next thing I know,
(03:04):
they, they responded to me,saying that I was a finalist. So
I was one of two people chosenfor my liberal arts section,
humanities, business and socialscientists. HBS, you know, I'm
still I'm still working. We allare, yeah, but I mean,
especially because my father wasan English professor. I mean,
the liberal arts phrase has beenengraved. That's a weird switch
(03:27):
over. But yeah, so I did apply.I got called in to be a
finalist, and I have to say, mynerves were 10 times more doing
that interview with all theadministrators than it will be
tomorrow up on the stage. I'massuming, yeah,
Jason Varga (03:41):
no, you look at No, I imagine that. And you know,
that should be the speech partshould be a lot easier. You got
Pat. You got through the hardestpart. And that's, that's words
of encouragement for you too. Soyou did like the heavy lifting
already,
Unknown (03:54):
yes, but you know, I, once I did that interview, I
realized that this was actuallysomething that I really wanted.
I had told myself that the honorand opportunity in of itself of
being able to speak at the placethat my dad had put so much of
his effort and influence in forso many years of his life, you
(04:15):
know, I think I will carry thatwith me for the rest of my life,
and I even say in my speechthat, you know, it's what we
carry in us that will reallydefine who we become, and our
story and our the trauma won'tdefine who we are, but it is
something that will hold with usthe rest of our life. So I hope
(04:37):
that not only does a speech gowell tomorrow, but I hope that I
will remember it for the rest ofmy life, because the honor and
opportunity of being able to getup there and address my fellow
graduates and all the peoplethat have worked with my father
over the last couple years issomething that I'm especially
proud of myself. And again, Inever thought that I would be
the one to pick it my, you know,my GPA is, you know, not near.
(05:00):
Perfect. I think I have, like, a3.8 as well, but I'm super
passionate about my criminaljustice studies. I really enjoy
it, and I've realized thatstaying motivated in class and
having such awesome professorsis really something to you know,
keep me pushing. And this speechis something that I will
remember the rest of my life, mycriminal justice. It was
(05:21):
actually written in the articlethat I was influenced by my mom
as a lawyer. She read that, andshe was like, You're not
influenced by me. My mom is anonprofit elder law attorney for
Philadelphia, so, you know,that's an incredibly hard job,
and I've seen all the ins andouts of it, but it's affected
her, you know, in some ways thatyou know, she should be proud of
(05:41):
but it's definitely taken atoll. You know, being a non
profit lawyer in that city, butit has influenced me being grown
up. My parents were divorcedwhen I was younger, so I lived
with my my single mom. And, youknow, I've seen the ins and outs
and the long hours of the day,and you know how much of an
impact she really made, but, butthe thing is, she never was
(06:02):
proud of herself. She was neverhappy that she made the changes
in people's lives that she did.And you know, that took a toll
on me. So I tell her all thetime that she's making a great
impact. But you know, her job,her job is not easy, and they're
going through a lot of changes,especially for such a large city
like that, but it did definitelyspark my interest and curiosity
(06:23):
in the criminal justice field.She went to law school and tells
me about it, and I do not wantto go to law school, at least of
right now, I hope that I can geta career started and then
hopefully go back to school inmy 20s, if I choose to do so,
but the criminal justice fieldis something that I've realized
I'm especially interested in,and as opposed to health
(06:48):
sciences or stem the criminaljustice classes that I've taken
are such a breeze for me. Theygo by super quick. Not only have
the professor shown me that, youknow, a true, great professor
can make the class, you know,all the difference. But I'm just
especially interested in thisfield of study. And again, my
(07:09):
professors, Dr C and ProfessorRizzo, that I have are so
Jason Varga (07:13):
I'm not going to cut you off, because I feel like
you know you're looking over myshoulder and asking my
questions, right? Because youalready started with the quotes.
And I like to ask, you know, whoare some of their paper
professors, but as soon as yousaid criminal justice, I already
knew you're gonna go right withProfessor Rizzo and Professor C
Amber sekonti, because Iactually had the one before he
started doing this podcastnetwork. Also one of the
prestigious things about beingpresident's award winner, get to
(07:35):
be on this cool, national awardwinning podcast, right? But
before we had that built, I hadthe internet radio station,
which was, we were located inupstairs in Laurel Hall, which
is, you know, over liberalagain, humanities, Business,
Social Sciences, is located allthe time. However, the podcast
studio, or the internet radiostudio was right in the criminal
justice wing, right there in303, so I got to connect with
(07:57):
Professor Rizzo and Amber, likeall the time. And got to
realize, when you said, reallygreat professors really make
class. And I know them, becauseI see it all the time, students
coming in just to hang out withthem. You know they're going out
of their way, which is a tellingmoment for those professors,
right? But then I know how muchthey care, and even when they're
talking about it, never talkingbad about the students or
complaining or anything likethat. They're they're more
(08:19):
excited about trying to get themout there in the field and doing
like all this stuff. And I seewhat they kind of put into like
that energy, and I'm glad youknow you got to experience that.
Yeah,
Unknown (08:28):
they take absolute pride in their jobs here as
influencers, I would call them.And you know, I realized that
they're absolutely selfless.They don't talk, you know, much
about themselves, and they pourabsolutely everything they can
into bettering their students.Yep,
Jason Varga (08:44):
they will. They will pull all their connections
to like to make sure. I mean,look, you have to put the work
in, like they it's criminaljustice too, right? Like they
show you, like you can't be lateto class, you can't be doing
this stuff, like you're goinginto law enforcement of some
sorts, right? So you have a verystructured routine, but they're
preparing you for that, but youshow them that you have that
dedication, they're going to dotheir absolute best to get you,
(09:05):
you know, connected to whatever.And I had Professor Rizzo on
this podcast before talkingabout the criminal justice major
and all the connections,because, you know, he comes from
the corrections facility in thatthat world, and where comes
from. You know, Professor C alsocomes from actual other side of
law enforcement, but they knoweverybody. And then, you know,
did you go to the careerenforcement day or whatever that
(09:27):
we had? Yes. So you saw, likethey pretty much had every
potential, you know,organization in Browns county
here, and then some right? Sowell connected. But again, it's
but they're always out lookingfor their students, and they
will get you to where you wantto be, as long as you're willing
to
Unknown (09:41):
put that drive in. They're great at networking. And
also the fact that they'readjuncts for Rowan University,
and we'll be teaching the youknow, the fourth year. I just
absolutely so grateful to havethem all four years here, here
in my career, here at rcbc, andagain, having such a diverse
experience between them two,having him being the one. In of
the New Jersey State Prison, andthen her being such a impactful
(10:05):
and intelligent, you know,Detective for willing Barrow,
and then such a meaningfulteacher, and the fact that
they've gone out of their wayto, you know, take care of me
and knew my father as well. It'sjust so incredibly inspiring and
motivating. And I I actuallyremember my first semester here.
I did talk about in my speechthat my first ever class was
(10:26):
online with Dr C criminaljustice, 101, but my first
semester in person with them, Ihad risen my hands and said to
them, or said to ProfessorRizzo, I said, You know what?
I'm just so unbelievably, youknow, motivated here, sitting in
class like I don't want toleave. Can we do another hour of
you talking? Because he he hadshown me that the the previous
(10:49):
learning themes that I had, youknow, had in high school, were
not necessarily for me, and hehad taken a more personable
approach telling stories of hisown, and comparisons to to a
bunch of, you know, traumaticand inspiring memories that he
had working in a very dangerousand eye opening position. And
(11:14):
then Dr C, you know, I'vealways, you know, wanted to be a
cop, maybe not today and thisworld that we're growing up in.
But she had, she had really puteveryone else first, and
dedicated so much of herself tothat job. And you could see it
made an impact. And not onlywilling borough as, you know, as
a place, but each of herstudents, you know, I came from
(11:35):
Camden County. I've never evenstepped foot in willing borough,
you know, but I do know whatit's like. And her coming in
here to rcbc and teaching us insuch a selfless and a gentle,
gentle way, had you know, youwould have never guessed that
she's a she's a police officer,but, but she has put so many
people before her and changedher teaching style to you know,
(11:59):
over these years, of, you know,influencing so many people to
take that path that, you know,it does make me think that I
could do it if I wanted to. AndI think that's what makes them
such awesome professors. Yeah,
Jason Varga (12:11):
I love it. And they got you to where you are today,
you know. And now, now you'reoff to the next chapter, which,
again, my next question, whichyou already pretty much
answered, going off the rowing,right? So we can be doing some
of that stuff. So, so you saidyou didn't want to be a cop yet
today, do you have a specificpart or path of criminal justice
that you're honing in on?
Unknown (12:30):
So a lot of people ask that. And again, my mom being a
lawyer. You know, everyone says,right away, you know, do you
want to go to law school? And myanswer to that is, no, right
because, because, right now, Iwant to get out there. I want to
get out in the field. And, youknow, feel for it. Yeah, school,
school wasn't necessarily mybiggest strong suit again, until
I sat in these classes andrealized that the professor made
the difference. But I don'tnecessarily want to go to law
(12:54):
school. I'm going to continueanother two years here at rcbc
and then graduate with mybachelor's in Law and Justice
Studies. I am going to graduatewith a certificate of
undergraduate study and ethicsand a minor in psychology.
Jason Varga (13:07):
You are busy,
Unknown (13:11):
but this path that I want to take again, everyone
asked me what I want to do? Theanswer that I give them is fraud
investigation. I think that youknow, we know everyone that has
fallen, you know, victims tofraud and the uptake, and, you
know, cyber crimes that we'reseeing, especially financial
crimes, it will, you know,continue to rise, and I think
(13:32):
that I could make a hugedifference in that field.
However, there are so manybranches to criminal justice
that a lot of people are notfamiliar with, whether that be
animal cruelty investigation,fraud investigation, insurance
fraud, whatever that be. Soright now, I don't want to be a
private investigator, I don'twant to be a cop, I don't want
to be a corrections officer. Idon't want to be anything, but I
(13:54):
want to be at all at the sametime. So I'm hoping that over
these next two years, especiallyneeding a field placement and an
internship my my senior yearhere at rcbc, I'll be able to
get a better feel for what pathand what branch I really want
to, want to fall into. Butinvestigations, field
investigations, and especiallyhelping the victims of insurance
(14:15):
fraud and medical fraud andfinancial crimes has been a big
passion of mine that my classeshere have really taught me, and
I'm hoping as I get into the 300level classes this year, I'll be
able to get a better feel of,you know, what I'm really best
at, whether that be analytics orfield
Jason Varga (14:33):
investigations. Yeah, you'll it's just like, you
know, I want to say that's abeautiful thing about, you know,
starting out at communitycollege and then going off the
four year universities, orwhenever you're going off the
school and stuff, or just maybelife in general, you figure it
out as you go right, and youstart to know what kind of
clicks. And eventually, youknow, deep down, this isn't for
me right, or I want to trysomething else out, or some kind
(14:53):
of experience comes along theway that sets you on a different
type of path right, or continuesto drive down where you're going
with the broad INVISTA. Asian,but maybe there's something,
like, some kind of story,because what happened? Why? Why?
In that actual story, thatinvestigation, something might
have sparked it that maybetakes, you know, like, a little
bit somewhere else. You just letit happen as it happens, right?
But, you know, part of isgetting that experience and
stuff, but it's nice to see youalready have, like, some of that
(15:14):
focus. You go out there and tryit, and maybe that's you, maybe
it's not. But you know, youdon't have to always, you know,
everything be you know, this iswhat I'm going to do, and it's
going to continue to set out todo, right? Just letting nature
take its course. For lack ofgood share, I
Unknown (15:28):
found, I found a lot of upward mobility in the company
that I'm in now, and that showedme that the good company,
really, again, makes all thedifference and will spark a
career. However, I had toldmyself for a while that I don't
want to settle early, because,you know, I'm turning 20 in two
months, and I have so much timethat, you know, I want to use
(15:49):
all of my 20s to really figureout what I'm best at and what
I'm going to enjoy doing. Youknow, of course, I'm looking at
the lucrative aspect of it too,and you're financially stable,
absolutely, especially in a joblike this, because, again,
there's so many fields and, youknow, people are, you know, say
lawyers make a lot of money, butagain, nonprofit lawyers and big
city lawyers and people thatmake, I think, the truest
(16:10):
difference don't get compensatedin the way that they deserve.
Jason Varga (16:13):
No, there's, it's almost like a teacher sometimes
too. It's like, you know, youget an x salary, but it's all
that overtime and other stuffthat kind of goes into all that
stuff. Or like, my, you know, mybrother in law's in the banking
makes great money, hates his jobbecause he's working way too
much, doesn't see his family andstuff too. So there's like that,
that balance. But you'll figureagain, you'll figure it out, as
you go, always say, because, youknow, you got your, your young
on my side, because I rememberit's like, I feel like I was
(16:35):
just kind of like in college,but now I got my white beards
going on, maybe more from like,my daughter, my wife, calls him
a little bit more of the whitebeard in there, but it goes by
quickly, right? So embrace it,but don't be in such a rush to
get to the next parts. Yes, youknow, take each again. It's on
the cliche thing, but it's justlike, just take every moment as
it comes, all right, and don'tbe in such a rush to get to
(16:57):
where you're at and just get allthat knowledge base, but always
continue to learn too, right?Again, don't when you're at your
20s and you see that stuff, I'malways trying to continue to
learn. I mean, now Mine's kindof shifted more towards, you
know, landscaping and gardening,other things outside of, you
know, web, it and podcasting andstuff. But it's just because,
like, I don't know, I'm that atype personality or whatever it
(17:19):
is. All right, we're gonna wrapit up almost, because I got, you
know, I'm gonna speak withanother President's Award
winner. But, you know, I don'tthink you're gonna have so much
interview questions, because youmight when you get into, you
know, into your career field,but I'm gonna try preparing in
case you do have some of theseinterview questions I got to ask
Wilkins too. I'll kind of set upin a different theme of sorts.
(17:40):
So now you're some kind of, youknow, fraud investigator, or
whatever. You're walking up tothe crime scene stuff. What does
Mr. Alexander when he walks uponto that crime scene just
represent his aura. He's like,I'm here. I'm about to take
that's a
Unknown (17:53):
hard question. That's a hard question, putting me on the
spot. Yeah. See, you know,everyone always asks me what
bands I'm into. And I say, youknow, what I like the songs. I
add them to my playlist, and Idon't pay too much attention to
political answer, yeah, I'm ahuge Billy Joel fan. Okay, I
love Billy Joel. I think theentertainer is a great upbeat
song, but maybe not the best forwalking up to a crime scene. So
(18:14):
I can't give you an answer forthat, but you know, we'll go
over my playlist one day I'llhave to do a entering crime
scene playlist from when Ifinally get there. Okay,
Jason Varga (18:25):
well, just think about it. It would be something
cool. Have that little, I don'tknow, not Miami Vice kind of
vibe going on, but all right,how about a little bit of a
heavier question, something moreserious. Okay, what is your
theory on Bigfoot?
Unknown (18:39):
Oh, call me off guard. You're so led you into that trap
there. Just this past semester,my human services professor
actually said she grew up inAppalachia. She talked a lot
about, you know, how you justdon't question it. So I'm gonna,
I'm gonna go with that. Okay, Idon't want to put a theory out
there and, you know, get it, getit turned on me. But I think
there's a lot out there that weare unfamiliar with and have yet
(19:03):
to learn, but especially with
Jason Varga (19:05):
all these drones going on here in Jersey right
over my house all the time. Soit's like, is it aliens? No, I
don't think so. But yeah, okay,um, that's a whole other another
subject. One last questionbefore I get into the your
parting words, because you'rewearing an eagle shirt, how do
you feel about this year?
Unknown (19:22):
Great, yeah, great. You know, total, total Phillies fan.
It's nice to see, you know,
Jason Varga (19:28):
not to cut you off. But did you ever talk baseball
with Professor Rizzo? Nojustice, no no next time. Bring
up baseball to him next time.And that's a whole nother hour
session itself. Yeah, he's ahuge baseball guy.
Unknown (19:39):
I played baseball as a kid, and I actually do a adult
rec softball, okay, in the inthe springs and summers. Okay?
So I look forward to thatstarting back up a huge baseball
guy, that's my sport, and eaglesare absolutely killing it this
year. So I hope that we can makeit past the playoffs, and
hopefully in the spring, whenbaseball starts up again, we'll
see playoffs. Picture in thefall. I would love it. I would
(20:02):
absolutely love it. I thinkjersey, with all these drones
and everything, we could all useyou do
Jason Varga (20:06):
something, he's a win. You know, it's kind of
crazy, all right, so you kind ofalready alluded to it, and in
the beginning of littlequestionnaire here, a little
interview session. You know, youhad some parting words. You kind
of bring it up a little bit intoyour speech. But you know, for
something, for this, for thisshow, that you want to impart
some kind of inspiration or alittle wisdom to your fellow
peers, or anybody listening tothis, not necessarily getting
(20:28):
into, you know, criminaljustice, but just anything in
life you can floor is yours,just any parting words.
Unknown (20:35):
So what I, what I try to tell myself, especially you
know, being so young, is thatthere's, there's a whole lot to
be discovered out there, and ifyou don't give yourself the
chance to get out there, then itwon't be discovered. And I think
that lack of fulfillment willwill haunt you more than more
than you think. So what I tellmyself is that, you know, the
(20:58):
days are not easy, and you know,again, this this year has been
very troublesome for me and myfamily, but I've continued
pushing through it. My studiesand my workload have not
dwindled at all, so I'vecontinued to put those in, those
people first. But I again, I dohope that my whole 20s, my whole
decade of being in my 20s, Ihave a lot to learn. I'm hoping,
(21:21):
one, that I'll make it to my30s, and two, that I'll be able
to get a place for myself, andhopefully me and my girlfriend,
and settle down. And although Idon't want to settle with the
company, I am hoping that I'llbe able to find the state in the
country that I find mostcomfortable, because I think
that New England is calling myname okay. And I am hoping that
(21:42):
I'll be able to find a job thatis fulfilling and impactful and
rewarding. And I'm hoping thatin the end, I will realize that
what it is that makes me happyis anything that I want, there
you go. So I want to be able togo out there and find it all and
take care of myself and thepeople that have proven to take
(22:04):
care of me, and in the end, whatwe've been through as a child
will definitely hold with us therest of our life, but your life
is open to interpretation, andthere's a lot, a lot, lot, lot
out there that you have thepower to change. So don't when
don't dwell over the things thatyou cannot change, and keep it
pushing
Jason Varga (22:25):
absolutely my party words for you is, be careful
wearing your Eagles or PhillyWell, patriots aren't doing so
well. So, yeah, no, but it'sstill Philly Boston kind of
like, uh, oil and water of sortstoo. So
Unknown (22:38):
Well, where I work, there's a lot of Mets and
Patriots fans, so I bless you. Ihear it all. You're
Jason Varga (22:44):
kinda already conditioned for it. Yes. All
right, Jared, again, congrats onyou know, being this year's
recipient for the second annual,uh, winter commencement, getting
ready to speak in front of thehumanities, Business and Social
Sciences classes. We pulled someof your clips from your actual
speech off of YouTube, which,again, we'll be streaming live
on our YouTube channel, as wellas rcbc.edu, but Jared, again, I
(23:04):
know you're going to crush itout there and in the real world
and everything else. I'm lookingforward to seeing you tomorrow.
So go rest up and you know,thanks for coming on the show.
All right.
Unknown (23:12):
Thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure you
got.
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