Cooperate and Graduate

“Cooperate and graduate.”

A very simple phrase…but one that has held meaning for me for many decades. I first heard it when I was going to Scott Air Force Base as a 28-year-old community college instructor who was desperately needing to earn a bachelors degree. A 40-year-old classmate uttered it when I started to gripe about an instructor who was full of himself.

“Cooperate and graduate,” he said. “Don’t be stupid and get into an argument with someone who holds your fate in his hands. Smile….even if is more like grinding your teeth…..take it….and survive.” It was good advice. I used the same logic to grind out a masters degree and ultimately, the biggest challenge of my life, my doctorate. That final degree was a five year struggle that had many low points and very few high ones.

Each of my sons has now graduated from at least a community college and they all know what I am going to say when they have something negative to say about a teacher. C and G. They know what it means…

This past week I have seen a couple of extraordinary examples of people who have taken this philosophy to the next level.

They are an 18-year-old girl from Roscoe, Texas….a 41-year-old welder from Gale, Texas….and a 30-something fella who resides at the Wallace Correctional Unit near Colorado City.

18-yearold Shelby Ragsdale completed her associate degree and walked to get her diploma at our Western Texas College commencement. She earned her two-year degree with a 3.25 GPA while attending Roscoe High School. Next week she walks in her high school graduation. I had a rough time just getting through high school. What a remarkable accomplishment for Ragsdale who benefited from a partnership between her high school and WTC.

Story two revolves around 41-year-old Tommy Soto Jr. Soto made a mid-life decision to get his welding certificate at WTC. According to the faculty, he was the leader in a class of teenagers. Soto would hear about a classmate who didn’t have gloves….so he bought them. Everyone in the class had something given to them by Soto, who became a father figure.

Never sick a day of his life, Soto went home for spring break and never came back. He died of a heart attack. The college recognized that he had mastered the coursework and we presented his certificate to his wife and children at commencement. It was an emotional moment.

Finally, a pair of educators watched on as their son received his degree at the Wallace Prison Unit. Their son, drinking one night got into an accident. The driver of another car involved in the accident died. The boy was sentenced to a lengthy term for manslaughter. Despite their utter disappointment, they encouraged him to pursue education while incarcerated. He did…and they came to the prison to share that moment with their son.

Three remarkable stories…. Three stories that make me so proud to be an educator…. and specifically proud to be the president of Western Texas College.

Community Colleges are about second chances and the struggle to improve one’s lot in life.

Cooperate and graduate….

It is never too early……or too late.