Originally Posted by
fastreb
After starting the academy, keep your eyes and ears open while doing the opposite with your mouth.
As another poster let you know, social media is the bane of many a good LEO. One comment taken out of context can ruin an otherwise sterling career. Just as I recommended earlier about keeping the eyes & ears open and mouth shut, keep the fingers off the keyboard when it comes to money, religion or especially politics. Even if you get on a forum like this, always consider how what you are typing may be taken by someone else who has an agenda. Telling everyone why you like or don't like a certain firearm would be okay. Writing that the leadership of a certain city allowing (insert whatever group you want) to go wild shows how big a moron they are may come back to haunt you later.
Lastly, don't wake up ten years from now and realize that the only friends you have are other cops. Having outside interests and friends that have nothing to do with the law-enforcement field will help keep the stress at bay. That stress is the biggest thing that kills us early.