How One Criminal Justice Student Turned His Life Around at UEI Oceanside

Wuilfredo Benitez said that for several years of his life, he was “just being a knucklehead.”

He grew up in a lifestyle where the streets came first. The pull of his neighborhood gang — the brotherhood, the fights, the constant adrenaline of running the streets — became an addiction that consumed his time and nearly cost him everything.

“I lost sight of what was around me,” Wuilfredo said. “It was all about the barrio. You don’t realize until later that all the work you put in for your hood was really a waste of time.”

That realization didn’t come easy. It took years of mistakes, brushes with the law, and becoming a father before the weight of his lifestyle truly hit him. And then in January 2024, everything changed.

One night after drinking with friends, a confrontation turned violent, gunfire broke out, and Wuilfredo’s life nearly ended.

“I knew I was hit, but I didn’t know where,” he recalled. “I got shot five times.”

The experience forced Wuilfredo to make a significant change in his life. One major step he took was to register as a Criminal Justice student at UEI College’s Oceanside campus.

A New Start at UEI College

While in the hospital, Wuilfredo realized just how much he had been gambling with his life.

“Laying in that bed, I thought of all the things I’d miss with my son — high school, prom, his first girlfriend,” Wuilfredo said. “That’s when I knew I needed an alternative to this madness.”

So, after recovery, he took a chance on something that could benefit his future. Wuilfredo came across a post on social media about UEI College that stirred his curiosity, and he scheduled a visit to the Oceanside campus.

From the moment he walked in, he said he felt something different.

“The person I talked to empathized with me and my situation,” he said. “She told me the youth needed somebody like me to guide them away from the lifestyle I came from. That really stuck with me.”

He also liked the environment. The respect with which everyone treated one another gave him a sense of comfort. In March, Wuilfredo enrolled in the Criminal Justice program at UEI College.

For someone who once grew up with hostility toward power, it has been a transformative experience.

“I kind of grew up with a hatred toward authority,” he said. “Taking this class helped me see things differently. We learn through videos, discussions, and even simulators that put you in real-life situations. It’s made me respect the work being done in law enforcement.”

Seeking New Opportunities in Life

For the first time in his life, Wuilfredo found himself thriving in the classroom. He’s maintained a good GPA, even earning Student of the Month — something he never thought possible.

“This is the first time I’ve gotten a 3.0 or above in anything,” he said. “I thought I’d back out at first, but I stuck with it. And I actually like it. My advice to anyone thinking about UEI is to just give it a try. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Through the program, he’s also gaining credentials that will help him overcome barriers from his past. After completing certain modules, Criminal Justice students can earn certifications that open the door to opportunities in security work, a field that once denied him employment because of his past.

Now 36 years old and set to graduate in December, Wuilfredo is determined to use his story to help others. His goal is to work in security while sharing his experiences with young people before they go too far down a destructive path.

“Living the gang life, you’re pretty much brainwashed,” he said. “I see kids joining younger and younger, and I just want to do something about that. If my story inspires even one person to think differently, that’s good enough for me.”

Above all, Wuilfredo wants to make good on the second chance he’s been given.

“No longer will I allow anyone to dictate my decisions and thoughts,” he said. “No longer will my past failures haunt my future. UEI gave me a chance, and I’m taking it.”