Edwina Wait

July 2025 Issuephotography submitted by
Edwina Wait

 

Edwina Wait

Current Residence: Charleston, SC

Hometown: Cheraw, SC

Career & Rank: Game Warden, Private First Class

Family: Husband, Gavin; Son, Conant 8-months-old

Biggest Passion:
I love being outside with my family whether it’s walks in the park or just sitting on the porch.

What inspired you to pursue such a challenging career with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and what do you love about it?
During college, I never thought about going into a law enforcement career. I happened to fall into my career path after finishing graduate school. I knew I wanted to do something related to natural resources and conservation, but I did not know to what level. The best aspect of my job with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is I have the ability to make it what I want. I get to use officer discretion with every interaction. Even if an individual gets a ticket, they rarely leave with a bad attitude. Interacting with and educating the public so they can continue enjoying our resources is my favorite part of my job.

Tell us more about your journey into law enforcement.
After graduating from Clemson University with a BS in Biological Science, I went to the College of Charleston for a MS in Marine Biology. I knew at the time I wanted to be involved in conservation and focused my research towards identifying pollution in estuaries. After graduating, I decided that as much as I enjoyed the research aspect, that was not the direction I wanted to continue. At the time, SCDNR Law Enforcement was hiring. I decided to apply and got the job! In the course of my daily duties, I get to not only protect South Carolina’s natural resources, but I also have numerous opportunities to educate individuals using my knowledge.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve had to overcome so far?
Multiple times throughout my career, I have experienced individuals using certain descriptors towards women and myself that they do not use towards male counterparts. Sometimes when individuals are not comfortable with a female leading or instructing them, they will call the woman “emotional” or “aggressive”. It is frustrating to hear these words because they are simply a generalization in their skewed perception of women. I have learned during my time in law enforcement to meet these mindsets head-on, addressing the person on their word choice. You cannot change peoples’ perceptions, but you can pause in the moment and make them conscious of their choice. I know this is something I will see throughout my career, but I will not let those negative perceptions define me and how I choose to lead.

If you ever get down on yourself, what do you do to pull yourself up?
Sometimes in this job, after going through a situation or arrest, I will run through the scenario over and over in my head. I will start questioning my decisions as to whether they were right or not. I try to slow my thoughts and remind myself I made the best decision based on the situation as I evaluated it in the moment. I remind myself I was doing my job. It can be difficult to not let some things get to you, especially the more traumatic events. Empathy is just human nature. For my mental health, I make sure I have a clear division between my personal life and work life. I do my best to turn off work in my mind when I am with my family and on my days off. I always tell myself it’s okay to turn off the radio and silence my phone when I’m off duty. The work will always be there but valuable time with family won’t.

What is the No. 1 thing you would teach women about safety?
Always be aware of your surroundings. Unfortunately, we have lots of constant distractions as we move around. It is never a good idea to walk around looking down at a phone with headphones on. Make sure to be attentive to what is going on around you. Only you can keep yourself safe. º

If you could tell the world anything, what would it be?
You are responsible for yourself and the decisions you make, whether they are good or bad. Have pride in what you do. Do not do anything with the expectation of impressing others or looking for accommodation. Be proud of yourself and your work no matter how big or small.