Record details
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I probably knew I would regret it, but I dropped out of high school my junior year. I just couldn’t do the math, and it seemed that no matter which teacher I had they didn’t seem to have the tools to help me understand the subject. I was passed from teacher, to teacher to teacher. I guess it wasn’t important enough to me at the time. I went to work at a small air conditioning shop in Mesquite, building duct work. I remember the night my class graduated. That was a hard night, knowing my friends would be walking across that stage and I would be at the shop.
Finally, I realized I needed to hit the books and get my G.E.D. I finished my G.E.D. and went to an appliance training school in Gainesville. I got a job with Sears as an in-home technician. It was good work but I wanted to be able to do more for my family. My wife, Jennifer, home-schools our three daughters and I’m the sole bread-winner. Sears kept sending me out to heating and air conditioning calls and I knew nothing about HVAC. I knew I needed more training and so I asked them to work around my schedule so that I could attend night school at TJC The first person I talked to at TJC was Bill Stiles. He put my mind at ease right away – he said “you can do this.” Mid-way through my first semester, I knew enough about HVAC that I asked my bosses to start throwing the HVAC calls my way.
My second year at TJC I was in a refrigeration class and Professor Burt Wallace walked up and practically pulled me out of my chair. He said “I need to see you in my office right now.” He looked mad! We walked into Bill Stiles’ office and they shut the door. Burt sat down and asked me to sign a piece of paper. I asked him what was wrong; I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to sign anything.Finally, he started to crack a smile and I knew something was up. He told me I’d been recommended for a scholarship. What a relief! Not only to know that I wasn’t in trouble, but that I didn’t need to worry about how I was going to pay for tuition at TJC.
The scholarship was from the TJC Foundation Golf Tournament, held each September to raise money to help students like me. The men and women who play in the tournament or contribute money to be sponsors are making a lot of people like me really happy!
I had planned to stop attending TJC when I completed the certificate program and be satisfied, but when I got the scholarship, I decided I needed to finish my associate’s degree. After visiting with my advisor, though, I realized that scary math was back.
I was going to have to beat it and not let it beat me.
My wife bought some study books for me and I began to work hard at trying to understand algebra. Finally, I overcame math and finished my associate’s degree at TJC. It was a really cool experience, being at TJC. I’ll never forget it. Having the opportunity to graduate for the first time was the best feeling in the world. To finally get to walk across that stage. What a moment!
It feels good to know I’ve accomplished something like that. There is nothing like it, really. I’m thankful for guys like Burt and Bill and the people who put together the golf tournament and work to raise money for scholarships. They’re making a difference in people’s lives in the most important way. - Biography
- TJC Hero and Friend Rocky Coss graduated Magna Cum Laude from TJC in December 2010 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration. He also completed two Certificates of Proficiency, one in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration and the other in commercial refrigeration. He worked with Sears for seven years as a technician and trainer, responsible for overseeing nearly 280 technicians, before establishing his own company, At Your Service Appliance and AC, in 2013. Rocky and his wife, Jennifer, live in Van and have three daughters, Hannah Joy, 17, Hailey Ezperanza, 15, and Jessamyn Faith, 13.
