May 19, 2008
 For every student, the end of the semester invariably brings with it the stress and anxiety of final tests and papers.
For Thomas A. Vargas, who will graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice on May 22, he was mentally prepared for the challenge. Four years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps will do that for you.
“I joined the Marines a month prior to September 11 — I was in boot camp when the 9-11 attack occurred. I think serving in the military allowed me to learn how to take things a little slower and have a more open mind,” he said. “I stay at ease and don’t allow myself to become overwhelmed. You take everything one step at a time and everything falls into place.”
According to Vargas, it was his time in the military that led him to pursue a career in criminal justice.
“My occupation while in the military was paralegal,” he said. “For the last two years I served, I was working with JAG (Judge Advocate General) lawyers on numerous cases. It definitely sparked an interest in the criminal justice field and I decided to pursue it further.”
Vargas has a personal connection to Temple, and to Ambler in particular — his mother, Sonia Medina, is the Office Manager for Academic Advising and Career Development at Ambler.
“I wanted to take advantage of the benefits and opportunities afforded me here at Ambler — I think of Ambler as Temple’s best kept secret. I love the student to teacher ratio and the involvement and engagement between students and faculty — the campus dean is right there in the classroom teaching!” he said. “It’s a very personalized experience with the whole staff looking out for you. I think the old saying that it takes a village to raise a child is the truth — it takes a lot from the community to develop one person and the campus community here at Ambler is willing to invest that time in you.”
While at Ambler, Vargas has excelled both inside and outside of the classroom. A Dean’s List recipient several times, Vargas was presented with a Dean’s Leadership Award for 2007-2008 and the “Criminal Justice Scholars Award.”
Since May 2006, he has been a student staff member for the Temple University Criminal Justice Training Programs (CJTP), located at the Ambler Campus, which is responsible for training more than 4,000 criminal justice professionals each year. Working for CJTP, Vargas has effectively organized, maintained, and coordinated training equipment and materials for several law enforcement and policing programs with different training needs. He helped process Temple University Campus Police applicants through physical fitness and reading tests; provided audiovisual support for the 2007 Police Academy Graduation Ceremony; participated in the 2006 and 2007 Annual Crime Prevention Conferences hosted by Temple University; and performed various administrative tasks for the Deputy Sheriffs, State Constables, Magisterial District Court Staff, and Legislative Security Officers training programs.
“Since Thomas began working for Criminal Justice Training Programs, I have witnessed a pleasant transformation. Although Thomas’ prior military service helped to develop and forge his character, Thomas has continued to develop intellectually, emotionally, and experientially during his studies at Temple,” said Anthony J. Luongo, Executive Director of Temple University CJTP. “I know this can be attributed to his working with and studying under law enforcement professionals and criminal justice academicians, but more profoundly, it demonstrates Thomas’ commitment to preparing for the challenges that a career in law enforcement will undoubtedly bring.”
While ably handling the rigors of a full-time college curriculum and a student staff position, Vargas also helped revive the Criminal Justice Society student organization at Ambler in addition to being an active part of the Ambler Campus Career Fair; a volunteer at Ambler’s annual EarthFest celebration, which welcomed more than 12,000 people to campus in 2008; and a “Big Brother” in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program.
“With the Criminal Justice Society, we wanted to bring in some outside experience — guest speakers and programs that could guide students and develop techniques, particularly pertaining to professional development,” he said.
Vargas said when juggling responsibilities inside and outside of the classroom, “it’s all about balance.”
“A lot of students want to get involved very quickly and sometimes forget the primary reason they are here,” he said. “The best advice I can give is to take the time to establish yourself at the University first. Doing that, you’ll become aware of the active organizations and the programs on campus and you’ll ensure that you are where you want to be.”
After graduation, Vargas already has a good idea of where he wants to be. In Summer 2007, he began the lengthy application process to become a Border Patrol Agent for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency. He has successfully completed all phases of the hiring process, including a written test, physical and psychological screenings, two oral interviews, and an extensive background check. He is now waiting to hear when he will be scheduled to attend the next session of the 19-week U.S. Border Patrol Academy in New Mexico.
“When I worked as a paralegal, I was involved in a lot of cases related to human trafficking and child exploitation. If I can pull even one child out of harm’s way — I think that’s where I can make a difference,” he said. “A lot of people don’t have the emotional fortitude to be able to handle these kinds of cases — the military gave me a lot of structure. I think of it as a calling. I have a responsibility to myself and to society to be where I think I can do the most good.”
|
