College Experiences That Helped A Police Officer At UCLA Succeed
London's time at Utah State University proved formative, building strong relationships—"30 plus years of friendship"—and fostering a community-oriented approach through volunteer work with local children, an experience that shaped their career as a police officer by instilling a deep understanding of community engagement and the importance of building trust. This early involvement in community outreach, initiated by a coach's simple request, provided the foundation for their success in law enforcement, illustrating the value of mentorship and hands-on experience.
Community Engagement, Mentorship, Interpersonal Skills, Problem-Solving, Resilience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
London McBride
Police Officer
UCLA Police Department
Utah State University 99'
Southern New Hampshire University; MS-Organizational Leadership
Anthropology, Sociology
Government & Public Sector
Legal
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Building strong relationships with diverse groups of people.
2. Participating in community service, such as reading to children or mentoring.
3. Developing strong communication and interpersonal skills through interactions with people from various backgrounds.
Transcript
London, taking you back to your time at Utah State, what did you do in undergrad that set you up for success in your career?
Utah State was the best place for me to go. I was recruited to play football by the late Terry Donahue.
I went on a recruiting trip to Utah State, and one of the players asked me if I was coming back. I told him yes and held fast to that promise, even though it was just a verbal commitment. I decided to go to Utah State instead of UCLA.
I consider my time at Utah State the best time of my life. I built relationships, played ball, and made memories. Many of my friends from Utah State are still my friends today, over 30 years later. It's great to see many of them now working as administrators on campus. We still have a strong bond and friendship.
I believe being around a diverse group of people at Utah State set me up for success. I also want to give my coaches a shout-out for putting me in a position to make a difference. We had a program where we visited neighborhood schools and read to kids as a team.
As the demand grew, individuals started going on their own. My coach asked if I wanted to lead this effort, and I agreed. I would get calls from schools asking me to visit kids who were having a tough time, either mentally or emotionally. I would show up, even if it was just to sit with them.
I remember talking to a kid who was sitting alone on a swing. They asked me to have recess with him, and I agreed. We just hung out, sat on swings next to each other, talked, and laughed. I thought it was a wonderful way to serve the community.
He looked up to me, a football player from Utah State, and I was there for him on a bad day. It was a truly impactful experience. Being at Utah State and meeting the professors, students, and staff molded me into the person I am today.