Choose Integrity: Build the Person You Want the World to See

One of the things I will probably be writing a lot about in upcoming articles is what I’ve been learning about in graduate school. This isn’t necessarily just because of the content (although I find what I’m learning fascinating, which means I’m in the right program), but also just the learning possibilities of real life.

Graduate school is meant to refine and prepare you for a very specific career you will have in the future. Much of what we learn is skills or knowledge related to our profession, but it’s much more than that: there is also plenty to learn about living in the real world with a professional job.

One thing that I have been seeing in the real world is that mistakes don’t exist in a vacuum: they become real-world problems. On September 5, 2026, a West Fargo police officer was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. This isn’t the first time, of course, that an officer or other professional made a bad decision and thus suffered the consequences (remember the Coldplay concert last year where the kiss cam caught a CEO and his HR executive cheating?). We all make bad decisions in our lives; however, some decisions can cost your reputation and your career.

My graduate program is clinical mental health counseling, which means that professional conduct is of the utmost importance. It isn’t that one can’t be yourself even in a professional setting; a lot of it comes down to “do I convey the message that I want to send?” Are we behaving like the message we want to give off, right down to what we post on social media?

If you didn’t know, North Dakota and Minnesota publish the names of counselors who violated the code of ethics where disciplinary action was taken. Whether it be suspension, a revoked license or anything in between, it’s all public record. No professional wants their name plastered for all their colleagues to see!

North Dakota also has public records. You don’t need to be someone conducting a background check to find out if someone has a criminal record in our state. You can find nearly all traffic violations, citations, misdemeanors or felonies with a few clicks of the keyboard.

Add in a public social media platform or two, and you can get a pretty good picture of a person within minutes.

One might argue that a criminal record, a traffic violation or a poorly thought-out post on Facebook doesn’t accurately represent a whole person. Perhaps not, but if you are an employer looking at a potential hire or a client researching the person who is giving them care, you make assumptions anyway. That’s not a character flaw; that’s human nature.

Maybe what you post on social media is not in bad taste but simply a reflection of your personality. You still need to be cautious about what you post. Do you want your grandma, boss, professor or little cousin to see all this? They might someday. Is what you post an accurate picture of your life? Is someone underage drinking alcohol in your photo? Is the language appropriate? Are you oversharing personal details you might not want a client or boss to know about?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with expressing yourself. Being a professional doesn’t mean you have to pretend to be someone you aren’t. It is about being intentional about the messages your choices convey. When what you do becomes public information, one should always be cautious about their decisions.

Your case might not be extreme, like the officer with a DUI or the popularization of a controversial video from a concert, but none of these individuals thought it would happen to them either. It is best to remain on the side of caution and choose integrity.

College is a good place to start becoming the adult you want the world to see and know. You don’t have to become something else, but it is a good place to start leaning into the professional career you are here to obtain. When you go to a party and risk getting a minor in possession of alcohol, when you get multiple speeding tickets or what you share on social media leaves a trail of who you are online.

What you do and who you are leaves behind a story. You don’t have to become someone else or be “fake” by any means. This is not a warning that “your boss might Google you." I want readers to consider who you are right now and who you want to be, and make choices accordingly. College is a great place to start!