by After graduating from Hallsville High School in 1988, I skipped college and went straight to work. Two years later, I was married and a father of twins, a boy and a girl. My second son came later.
I had fitted, welded and done industrial work all my life. Over the years, I had applied six times to work at the Eastman Chemical plant, and I was turned down all six times.
Two years ago, while I was working for a friend’s trucking company, Covid hit and I suddenly found myself out of a job.
So, at age 50, I decided to go back to school and enrolled in the TJC Industrial Maintenance Technology.
I hadn’t been in school for a few decades and, honestly, there were times I thought about giving up. But with the support of my wife, my family and my great TJC professors, I stayed with it.
On May 13, at the age of 52, I walked the stage at graduation and picked up my Associate of Applied Science degree.
On May 14, my wife and I left for a weeklong cruise to Mexico.
On May 23, I started my new job with Eastman Chemical.
My TJC degree got me in the door at Eastman, but it also represents my growth between 1988 and today. Back in high school, my GPA was just enough to graduate, but I worked hard and prided myself on my GPA in college and graduated magna cum laude.
I also have more pride in myself now, too. I’m a big guy. I weigh 357 pounds, and I go to the gym and work out. When I walk into a room, I want people to look at me and know I can do that job and say, “Hey, he’s probably got another 15 or 20 more years of work in him.”
So, if you’re thinking about a midlife reboot, my advice to you is to go for it and don’t give up. When you get frustrated, and you will, just work through it and keep going.
Believe me, it’s worth it.
