Estimated read time: 1 minute 43 seconds

What do we do when we reach a crossroads? It’s a question Ryleigh Mulvihill had to ask herself a year into her career as a journalist. Ryleigh, a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice graduate in 2023 found herself pursuing two career paths after completing her degree.

Immediately after graduation at UFV, she continued her education at Centennial College in sports journalism, a passion she’s had since she was a child.

“My mom is in the RCMP and ended up being a media spokesperson for them,” says Ryleigh. “Coupled with my love for sports and seeing my mom in media, I thought I could make a career in sports journalism.”

But her journalism instructors warned Ryleigh and her classmates that job prospects were slim, even recommending that they take up a more lucrative trade, such as plumbing, instead. For Ryleigh, this was hard to hear.

She really wanted to take a shot at journalism, but she thought it would be wise to have a back-up plan. So, she applied to join the RCMP. “I was feeling really disheartened,” says Ryleigh. “I didn’t think I’d get a journalism job.”

Both Ryleigh’s parents work for the RCMP, although her father has since retired. “Of course, this is something I imagined I would do someday. It didn’t come as much of a surprise, but earlier than planned.”

Despite the cautions of her professors, Ryleigh landed a job with the Abbotsford News just after graduation, just months after she had submitted her application to the RCMP.

With her journalism career just beginning, she did not expect the call she received from the RCMP inviting her to become part of the force, many months after applying.

Rather than a complete pivot, Ryleigh is looking at the situation pragmatically. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she intends to one day integrate her two worlds in journalism and policing.

“I love journalism,” says Ryleigh. “But at the same time, if you can make a difference, if you think you can do all these sorts of things in policing and do media relations as part of a policing career, why not take that shot?”