Husband and wife Jeremy and Beverly King of Arab share a
home, share parenting of their three children, and now share a milestone
achievement for them both – earning an Associate degree from Snead State
Community College.
The couple dropped out of high school but made the decision
together to complete their education because of the inspiration they received
from their children.
“Jeremy and I have been married for 14 years. It was a very
unique situation because when we married, I had a 5-year-old daughter, and he
was raising a 5-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter. They all started
kindergarten the same day. They all graduated high school on the same day last
May,” said Beverly.
The couple earned their GEDs, and they made the decision to
enroll at Snead in 2008. At the time, Jeremy was operating a small construction
business as a roofing contractor, a field he had worked in since he was 16.
Beverly was a stay-at-home mom, staying busy with the schedules of their three
children.
“I always wanted to return to school and earn a college
degree. When my children were finally in high school, I knew it was the best
opportunity to begin classes,” she said.
“My wife definitely encouraged me the most. If she says she
is going to do something, that is it; you can count on it. We looked at each
other for encouragement,” Jeremy said.
“The industry I work in is extremely difficult,” Jeremy
continued. “It is very physically demanding. While it is still something I plan
on doing for a long time, it is not really a job I will be able to do at 70
years old. I started thinking a lot more about my future. I really wanted to be
an example to my children. I am happy to say, two of my children are also students
at Snead, and everyone in our household is a college student!”
The Kings started to college gradually by taking some
part-time courses through Snead State’s Arab Center. The journey to receive
their Associate degree has been a memorable one full of challenges and unique
experiences.
“Our biggest challenge was most definitely this semester,”
said Beverly. “We both took 16 credit hours, and we had our most advanced
classes with a load that was more than the (minimum requirement for) full time.
We both have a 4/0 GPA and wanted to keep that. Statistics was the hardest
class – hands down.”
Jeremy said one unique experience was sharing some classes
with their two children who are currently enrolled at Snead. “We had all of the
same classes for the spring semester. I thought it would be weird to sit in a
classroom with my own kids, but it wasn’t strange at all. We teased them about
it, hoping to get a rise out of them. It did not bother them in the least.”
But the experience that tops them all came this semester as
Jeremy and Beverly prepared to end their time as Snead State students.
“Our best experience at Snead outside of the classroom was
picking up our cap and gown at the bookstore and ordering our honor cords. It
was really special to be able to do that together, and it was the first time it
began to sink in. I know it is really going to be wonderful to walk and get our
diplomas together,” Jeremy said.
While their children will return to Snead in the fall,
Jeremy and Beverly will transfer to Athens State University to continue their
pursuit of Bachelor degrees. Both are majoring in management with a minor in
acquisition and contract management. Their goal is to one day work in civil
service, hopefully for the U.S. Army.
Like many non-traditional students, the Kings had their own
ideas of what college would be like before they enrolled, but they soon
realized Snead State was different from their expectations.
“I expected Snead to be packed with teenagers. When I
arrived at my night class, it was half-filled with older adults. I was
surprised by how many in the classroom were actually returning students.
“I was also surprised by some of the financial options. I
attended Snead for quite some time assuming I would not qualify for a
scholarship. After talking to the financial aid office, we both applied for and
were awarded scholarships,” said Jeremy.
“Academically, math intimidated me the most. It had been so
long since I actually used any math that I learned in school. It did take a lot
of work, but it was very doable. I loved watching the videos online. It made
online classes seem much more like being in the classroom,” said Beverly.
“The most intimidating part is the process. Once you talk to
someone on campus, it will help you form a plan of action,” she continued. “You
don’t really have to have all the answers. You just need to ask the questions.
They have so many people who will go out of their way to help you. They want to
see you succeed.”
“College classes are very different than they used to be,”
Jeremy added. “There is a lot of flexibility. There is no way I could have
returned to school while working and raising three kids if my only options were
traditional hours on the main campus. Luckily, I had the option of online
classes, night classes, local campus classes, and the main campus. A lot of
older students feel they have waited too long and won’t be able to learn the
material. My wife and I are both graduating with honors. There is also a great
advantage with age – maturity.”
The
couple encouraged other adults not to let anything stand in the way of
achieving their dreams of a college education. Students who complete their
associate degree or certificate can expect to earn as much as $8,000 more per
year and about $400,000 more in a lifetime than a high school graduate.
Unemployment for community college graduates is typically 30 percent lower than
for high school grads.
“People
with an Associate degree are more likely to earn their Bachelor degree. It is
also a personal accomplishment that no one can take away from you,” said Jeremy
and Beverly King.
The
couple will participate in Snead State’s spring Commencement ceremony on
Thursday, May 10, at 5 p.m. at the Plunkett-Wallace Gymnasium.
