It had been 35 years since James Fry, 52, first enrolled in college, an opportunity he was forced to give up when family responsibilities took his time and energy. But after watching his fourth child graduate college, he put his “woulda, shoulda, coulda” dreams into action with the help of Tennessee Reconnect, a state initiative to help adults pursue higher education tuition-free. For his efforts, Fry was named Tennessee’s Community College Student of the Year. Here’s the history major’s story of achievement at Chattanooga State Community College.
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As I watched each of my four children graduate with various degrees each from different universities, I was so proud of all that they achieved. As parents, we were proud too, knowing that we have helped give our children the gift of education that is so important in today’s society.
Although I was glad for my children, I felt a deeper emotion, a nagging feeling at each celebration, knowing that I had never graduated from college. Thirty-five years ago, I enrolled in college, but my father’s illness and other responsibilities proved to be too large a barrier, so I left school and never imagined returning. Meeting and marrying a wonderful and nurturing wife, raising kids and working more than full-time, I was proud of what I was able to accomplish; however, I always knew it would have been easier with a college degree and I would have had the ability to pursue more choices in my career path.
At each of the graduations for my children, I had always said aloud, “if I could do it all over again, I would,” and last year, after attending the fourth and last graduation ceremony as my youngest daughter graduated, I decided to take a huge step and return to college. I selected history as a major, and with my family’s support, I have begun a life-changing journey that has led me to a renewed sense of purpose, pride and a new community through attending Chattanooga State Community College. Most importantly, through former Gov. Bill Haslam’s “Drive to 55,” the Tennessee Reconnect grant has made it possible for me to attend tuition-free and focus on these new goals I have set for myself.