From Dropout to Director: My Journey to Columbia Southern University

It’s 3:30 am on a Friday morning, and while the world around me sleeps, my mind is wide awake full of ideas, responsibilities, and reflections. These late nights have become a rhythm in my life, especially during our EMT courses. They’re not restless in a bad way; they’re filled with purpose. Tonight, though, feels different. I’m sitting at my desk, looking back on a journey that’s been anything but traditional. And I’m realizing just how far I’ve come—not just professionally, but personally.

College Wasn’t “For Me”—Until It Was

Growing up, I knewcollege wasn’t the path I wanted to take. It wasn’t that I didn’t value
education—I just wasn’t ready for what it demanded. I didn’t see myself fitting
into that world, and honestly, life had other plans for me. Somewhere around my
junior or senior year of high school, I dropped out. I was close to finishing,
but circumstances and mindset pulled me away. When I left, the judgment came
fast and loud. People said I was throwing my life away. That I was a failure.
That I was the biggest waste of potential they’d ever seen. And for a while, I
believed them. I carried that weight.

But what most peoplenever knew is that I didn’t stay down. I didn’t give up. I quietly found an
online school based in Florida and started studying again. Jordan—always the
smart one—helped me understand things I couldn’t grasp on my own. Diana Guidry
took me into her home and tutored me through the subjects that still felt
impossible. With their help, I pushed through and earned my high school
diploma. It was a huge moment for me, but I didn’t really celebrate it. I
didn't talk about it much, why? Because the people who tore me down back then
didn’t deserve to share in that victory. They weren’t there when I needed
support, so why should they be part of the celebration? That diploma was for
me. It was for the people who believed in me when no one else did. For the
quiet victories that don’t need applause.

Learning Through the Fire

Once I entered thefire service, something shifted. I found purpose in the chaos, and I found
value in education—not the kind you get from a classroom, but the kind you earn
through sweat, grit, and repetition. I pushed myself to learn everything I
could. I earned my Hazardous Materials Awareness & Operations
certifications through LSU-FETI, along with Firefighter I & II and Fire
Service Instructor I & II. These weren’t just credentials—they were
stepping stones. Proof that I could learn, grow, and lead. While working toward
my instructor credentials, I discovered something unexpected: a passion for EMS
education. Teaching others lit a fire in me. The more I taught, the more I
learned. The more I learned, the more I wanted to teach.

In 2020, I made adecision that would change everything. I committed to pursuing EMS education
seriously, with the dream of one day opening my own training center. That dream
wasn’t born out of ambition—it was born out of necessity. I saw the gaps in training,
the lack of accessible education, and I knew I could do something about it.

EMT Dreams, Night Shifts, and National Exams

To open a trainingcenter, I needed my National EMS Certification. That meant going back to
school—again. I enrolled with Southern Training Consultants (STARS) while
working full-time as a Firefighter/EMR on an Emergency Response Team in a
chemical plant. My schedule was brutal. I worked alternating day and night
shifts, often leaving a 12-hour night shift to go straight into class, only to
return to another night shift hours later. It was exhausting, but I had a team
at work that helped me balance the chaos. They believed in me, and that made
all the difference.

I wasn’t the topstudent in class. I wasn’t the fastest learner. But I showed up. I applied
myself. I asked questions. I studied during breaks, between shifts, and in the
middle of the night. And eventually, I passed—not just the class, but my state
skills exam and my National Registry exam on the first attempt. That moment was
monumental. It wasn’t just a certification—it was a symbol of everything I’d
overcome. A goal I’d set back in high school, one I thought I’d never reach,
now realized against all odds.

“You Can’t Go to College”—Challenge Accepted

Even after earningmy EMT, the doubts didn’t stop. People told me my online high school diploma
wasn’t valid. That I couldn’t go to college. That I’d hit a ceiling. And for a
while, I believed them. But something in me changed. I stopped accepting what people
said as truth. I started questioning everything. That mindset didn’t make me
popular—but it made me unstoppable.

In May 2023, Iopened Trinity Education Solutions. A guy who once hated school and dropped out
was now running an education business. We faced challenge after challenge, but
we kept building. We taught EMTs, sponsored CEUs, helped first responders
regain their certifications, and created a space where learning was accessible,
practical, and empowering. We had to shift from a consumer mindset to a
business mindset—something no one really prepares you for when your mission is
to help others. But we figured it out. We learned to balance impact with
sustainability. And we grew.

Digging Through the Past to Build My Future

When I finally madethe decision to apply to college, it wasn’t as simple as filling out a form and
hitting “submit.” I had to go back—way back. I started digging through old
records, tracking down my high school diploma from the online school in Florida,
requesting transcripts, and gathering every certification I’d earned over the
years. It was a process that forced me to revisit chapters of my life I hadn’t
looked at in years. Each document told a story: of struggle, of growth, of
persistence. And while most people didn’t know I had even earned my diploma, I
kept it that way for a reason.

Back then, when Idropped out, the support wasn’t there. The people who were quick to judge
weren’t around to help me rebuild. So when I finally earned that diploma, I
didn’t feel the need to share it widely. It wasn’t about proving anything to
them—it was about proving something to myself.That I could finish what I started. That I wasn’t a failure. That I could
rewrite my story on my own terms. And now, years later, that quiet victory
became the key to unlocking a new chapter.

Two Paths, One Purpose

After submittingeverything to Columbia Southern University, I started exploring degree options.
I wasn’t just looking for a piece of paper—I wanted a path that aligned with my
mission, my passion, and the work I’ve already been doing. Two programs stood
out:

Option 1 - Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management with a concentration in Emergency Medical Services

This path focuses on large-scale planning, disaster response, and leadership in emergency systems. It’s about managing chaos and building resilience across communities.

Option 2 - Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medical Services Administration with a concentration in Emergency Medical Services Education.

This one hit home. It’s about shaping the future of EMS through curriculum development, instructional leadership, and educational strategy. It’s the degree I never knew existed—but now feels like it was made for me.

Both options speakto different sides of the work I do. One is about systems. The other is about
people. And while I haven’t made a final decision yet, I know that either path
will allow me to expand my impact far beyond the classroom.

21 Credits Earned—Before Day One

On October 23rd, Ireceived my official acceptance into Columbia Southern University. That moment
was surreal. For the first time in my life, I was a college student. But it
didn’t stop there. Because of the work I’ve put in over the years—my
certifications, my training, my professional experience—I was awarded 21 transfer credit hours toward my degree. Thatmeans I’m starting out just three credits shyof sophomore classification.

Let that sink in: aguy who dropped out of high school, who was told college wasn’t an option, is
now entering a university with nearly a full year of credits already earned.
Not because I followed a traditional path, but because I earned it—through fire, through EMS, throughteaching, through grit.

Starting College at 32—And Owning Every Step

I’m 32 years old.And I’m just getting started. This isn’t aboutcatching up. It’s about leveling up. It’s about taking everything I’ve learned—the hard way—and channeling it into something bigger. I don’t know exactly how long this degree will take. I don’t know what every step will look like. But I do know that I’m ready.Ready to learn. Ready to grow. Ready to lead. Because for me, this isn’t just about personal achievement. It’s about multiplying impact.

That’s the mission.That’s the legacy. And that’s the reason I’m walking into this next chapter
with my head high, my heart full, and my purpose clear.