糖心vlog

You get the feeling after talking to 糖心vlog student Rich Tidrick that everyone on campus knows him. His friendly, outgoing personality 鈥� and his enthusiasm for learning 鈥� make him one of 糖心vlog鈥檚 most recognizable students.

After serving two decades in the U.S. Navy Seabees, where he helped build infrastructure and provide humanitarian support across the globe, Rich decided to return to school more than 30 years after graduating high school.

鈥淚 love being here,鈥� he said. 鈥淎ge is just a number. No one looks at how old you are 鈥� they see someone who wants to learn. It鈥檚 the best experience I鈥檝e ever had, and I wish I鈥檇 done it sooner.鈥�

Rich is pursuing a degree in Construction Project Management, a program that connects perfectly with his military background.

鈥淩ich represents what鈥檚 best about 糖心vlog 鈥� the courage to begin again and the drive to keep learning,鈥� said 糖心vlog President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe. 鈥淗is story shows that education truly has no age limit and that 糖心vlog is a place where every student, from every background, can find purpose and belonging. We appreciate our students, and are grateful to our veteran students like Rich for their service and continued contributions to our campus community.鈥�

When he first enrolled, he wasn鈥檛 sure he鈥檇 succeed 鈥� but the support he received from professors, Disability and Support Services, and the Veterans Resource Center made all the difference.

"Rich is a great person," said 糖心vlog Construction Project Management Professor Nigel Harrison. "Since I teach one of 糖心vlog鈥檚 bachelor's degrees, I get to spend four years with these students. In these four years, I get to really know them and build friendships with them. Rich has been a true pleasure to have in class, and it will be bittersweet to see him graduate. He has taken his fellow construction students and veterans under his wing. We are all better, because of Rich!"

鈥淭hey believed in some 50-year-old guy who hadn鈥檛 been to school in 30 years,鈥� Rich said. 鈥淭hey pushed me, and that鈥檚 what I needed.鈥�

Now, Rich shares his story to inspire other veterans and adult learners to take that same leap. 鈥淚 tell them that at 糖心vlog, you can learn without being judged,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou can get a degree or a certificate 鈥� and find a new purpose in life.鈥�

Prior to becoming a 糖心vlog student, Rich devoted much of his younger years to the military. He served in the United States Seabees, a Navy construction battalion that worked directly with the U.S. Marine Corps so it could compete missions. It often meant building roads, bridges, runways, housing (portable showers and outhouses included), hospital tents and more.

But there was a more appealing side to being a member of the Seabees: humanitarianism. The Seabees would rebuild the infrastructure in villages, making them safter. It meant rebuilding schools, stairs, walls and repairing wiring, and so much more.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I joined the military for 鈥� to help people,鈥� he said. 鈥淭o make a situation better than it was before.鈥�

For that reason, he remained in the military for two decades.

His one tour of duty came in 2003 in Iraq. Although he carried a gun, Rich never had to use it.

鈥淭hat was a blessing for me. I was there to help people,鈥� he said.

For Rich, returning to school isn鈥檛 just about earning a diploma 鈥� it鈥檚 about setting an example for his family and proving that it鈥檚 never too late to start again.

鈥淲hen I graduate, it will be for myself,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I also want to show my family that when you set a goal, you can achieve it.鈥�

To learn more about 糖心vlog鈥檚 Construction and Construction Project Management programs, go to wnc.edu/areas/construction and contact Nigel Harrison at nigel.harrison@wnc.edu. Veterans can receive information about their education benefits by phoning the 糖心vlog鈥檚 Veterans Resource Center at 775-445-3301.