It wasn’t that long ago that Robert Knox was an out-of-work veteran with a debilitating health problem. Today, he is three courses short of earning his computer support specialist associate degree.
He’s also the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership winner for Georgia Piedmont Technical College.
It wasn’t easy going back to school at 60, but, Knox believes “No matter how old you are, no matter how little you have or what challenges you face — there’s a way.”
He’s living proof.
Question: Will this be your first academic degree?
Answer: No, I earned an English degree in 1972. I enlisted in the Air Force because I wanted to learn a skill to complement my academic learning. I worked in avionics on F11 fighter bomber planes and that first sparked my interest in computers.
Q: What did you do after the military?
A: I was discharged in 1975 when forces were being withdrawn from Vietnam and went to work for the Social Security Administration until 1998. I helped train staff when we moved from main frame to personal computers. In 1991, I moved to Atlanta and was a manager for computer information systems. I was working in a different job when I fell asleep at the wheel on I-285 and lost my job and just about everything else.
Q: Were you hurt?
A: Amazingly, I wasn’t. I lost two lanes of traffic and five seconds of time and no telling how many years off my life, but no one was hurt. Apparently, it wasn’t my time to go.
Q: But you lost your job?
A: Yes. I was exhausted and having trouble concentrating. I was finally diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Lack of sleep affected my brain function. I underwent an 8-hour jaw surgery, which is effective on most people, but it wasn’t on me. I have a C-PAP now which allows me to sleep some at night. When I couldn’t work, I had to get help from a local food pantry. To walk out with free groceries after having always been a contributing member of society felt awful. Later, I volunteered there for four years.
Q: What changed things?
A: I had always been an advocate for veterans. One day I was looking at programs on the Internet and came across the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program [offered through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.] It pays for 12 months of classes, books and some living expenses for unemployed veterans ages 35 to 60. I applied and was accepted a few weeks short of my 60th birthday.
Q: What made you choose Georgia Piedmont Technical College?
A: I knew that Georgia had a great technical college system, and the tuition was more affordable. When I visited Georgia Piedmont, a nice young fellow stopped and asked if he could help me. He turned out to be the executive assistant to the president. He told me about their Veteran and Military Support Center, which has been a great help. I started classes in January of 2013.
Q: Has it been difficult to go back to school?
A: I wasn’t sure I could even take classes or do tests, but online classes allow me to work during my best, most productive times. I also don’t have to worry about transportation costs. Being a student is an incredible experience. With my mind more active, my critical thinking is increasing. I always kept my hand in computers, but I’m really making up for lost time now.
Q: What has kept you going?
A: My buddy, Kurt Stotter, is also a veteran and a computer science student. He’s my mentor and my built-in homework prompt. I’ve got four grown kids who are a product of the Georgia University System and are doing well. They’re proud of me, and I hope to be a good example for my three grandchildren.
Q: What would you like to do with the degree?
A: I’m very interested in computer security and would like to work as a consultant for non-profits and small businesses. I know there is a need for skilled workers.
Q: Do you have any advice for others considering going back to school?
A: If you want to break whatever cycle you’re in, you have to take the first step. A Georgia technical college is a great place to do it. There are so many opportunities and they can even help you find a program that fits your needs. Lots of people face challenges, but challenges aren’t the end of the road. They may just take you down a different road that is greater than what you dreamed. It can happen. I’m blessed every day.
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