Collierville is known as a typically safe and quiet town. Located in Tennessee, Collierville is filled with people who work and go to school throughout the week, just like any other place. Police officers keep the area safe and sound, while teachers teach generation after generation. These two jobs may not sound like they have much in common, but they do share one thing. They are helping the community grow and thrive day after day. They just accomplish this in very different ways, of course. However, Mr. Chris Wages, who teaches Criminal Justice at Collierville High School, has seen both sides of things.
Before Mr. Wages started teaching at Collierville High, he worked as a police officer, keeping our community safe from trouble. “I joined law enforcement in 1995. I was hired by the Collierville Police Department.”
“Before I became a police officer, I was a college student. I worked in juvenile court…which I guess is kind of law enforcement.” Mr. Wages adds, “I didn’t want to be [a police officer] for most of my life. Oddly enough, during recession jobs were hard to come by and they were hiring.” Though his original plan was not to work in law enforcement, he followed his father’s footsteps. “I was kind of nervous at first, but proud because my dad was a police officer. But it was scary at first, since I knew it could be a dangerous job.” Law enforcement, a job where people must protect the community, constantly involves physical violence. That makes this a very spontaneous and dangerous job.
When Mr. Wages was asked if he felt that he made the right choice when joining law enforcement, he responded positively. “I do. For me it was the best thing. The schedule, the job…fit my personality and the way my entire life worked, honestly.” He speaks of all his time in law enforcement positively, finding joy in the fact that he got to help people in the community and do a job he found fun and fulfilling. “I never have regretted [joining law enforcement]. I always thought it was the best thing I could have done for me.”
Places constantly change when they are being protected and taken care of. Robbers are less likely to rob stores if officers are around, murderers and attackers will be caught and put behind bars. But sadly, they can also change negatively. Robbers can be more encouraged by the thrill. Communities can get worse when different people move in or leave. “Different areas changed in different ways. I saw places get better, and I saw some places get worse. Crime increased in some places.”
“It does feel good to help the community. You can’t help everyone, but when you can help, especially children, it feels great. Especially when they get older and tell you how much they were impacted by you.” Waking up every morning and knowing things could end badly is not an easy way to wake up. Being a police officer is a hard but rewarding job. They have to face some awful things but get to know they put bad people behind bars. More than that, they get to know that they serve and protect the community. “It felt strange when I retired. Different. I would see news stories and remember when I used to know all the details. It felt like I was on the outside when I left. At the same time, it was kind of relieving” He explains how different it feels when going from something you love to do to something completely new. “Yes, I enjoyed [law enforcement] a lot. It was a lot of fun and there was something new every day.”
“I really enjoy teaching. Teaching can be challenging as well, but the longer you do it, the easier it gets.” Wages admits. Teaching has its own challenges, teaching every day, waking early, giving tests and grades constantly. Teachers have to know the material they are teaching well, or the students will not understand and most likely fail. “I don’t have any regrets switching jobs. I could have stayed in law enforcement, but I’m glad I started teaching.” Mr. Wages openly talks about how he has no regrets switching jobs and loves what he does now. He knows he’s helping the community still. Just in a different way.
“I am very proud of what I do. When people ask what I do now, I don’t tell them I’m retired. I tell them I’m a teacher.” Teachers serve the community by teaching new students about subjects that will help them later in life. They teach generation after generation, helping those who may struggle, having to be patient with students while their own lives are going on outside of school.
“It does feel as fulfilling as law enforcement. Just in a different way.” Not only does Mr. Wages share about his past experiences in class, telling his students what they will face in the criminal justice system, but he teaches about a subject he knows well and loves to teach about. “A lot of people, whether they know it or not, need to know about their criminal justice system.”
Despite what students may act like now, some day they will all grow into adults. The current high school students at Collierville High School could be future politicians, police officers, and teachers later on. “Students can plug in in many different ways. I feel like anyone could be [successful]. I would have liked to have a class like they do, maybe I would have become a police officer sooner. It feels good to know I’m helping them and teaching them more about what they want to do. Or they could find out criminal justice isn’t want they want to do.”
Everyone plays a role in the society. From recycling on a daily basis or getting good grades to saving people from a fire or fighting crime. People constantly help the community thrive in different ways, keeping it clean and safe. Thanks to people like Mr. Wages, who have given their time to serve the community in an immense way, the community of Collierville is safer and happier.
