A Second Chance at Life
Sometimes Dreams Really Do Come True
by David Jobes
Edited by Dr. Jo Ann M. Whiteman
TechEdTimes Writer
As a result of an auto accident in 1998, I broke my neck and sustained 17 fractures in my back. At the time, I thought that I would not have much of a life again. A few years later, after several surgical procedures and hundreds of physical therapy treatments, it became obvious that I could in fact some day lead a normal life again. I searched for employment. Although my Associate's degree seemed adequate in the 1970's it no longer gave me the competitive edge in the new millennium. I had plenty of experience in various fields; however, my job search proved to be fruitless.
I was on Social Security disability at the time, and I saw on CNN news that congress had passed a bill called the "Ticket To Work" to assist disabled people in obtaining gainful employment, enabling them to get off of disability if they sincerely had a desire to work again and to not just lay around collecting government funds. I called about it and I was referred to a Department of Education office in Kissimmee. I was offered assistance in finding employment, and read everything that the office had on the Ticket To Work program. I saw that it provided for educational benefits if I wanted them, so I acted upon this part of the bill and asked them to send me to UCF.
It was a fortunate day when I was directed to Dr. Larry Hudson, Coordinator of the Vocational Education & Industry Training program (now Technical Education & Industry Training). I spent a few hours with him as he laid out a 2 year schedule of classes to submit for approval to the Department of Education, and the rest is history!
I chose this major because I wanted to return to a career in an industry training
department. I "temporarily" took a part time position as an adjunct professor at Central Florida College to help pay the bills while I looked for work in an industry training department. After a couple of months of teaching, I was promoted to the Academic Dean/Director of Education for all of the academic departments at the college.
As an instructor, I implemented as many different ideas in the classroom
that I could that I had gleaned from my courses at U.C.F. in Technical Education & Industry Training program.Many of theideas not only worked well, but they also made my life easier as well as assisted the students in achieving higher grades. Dr. Hudson drilled it into my head to "always treat adults like adults," and I have found that to be a tremendous help in communicating with the students whether the subject is academics or otherwise.
I am looking forward to working on my Master's degree in Vocational Education at the University of Central Florida and targeted May 2006 as my goal.
(Note from TechEd Writer & Editor: If you have worked with Dean Jobes you can understand why he was promoted to this position. His work was outstanding; he had a wealth of experience in various content fields and had both teaching and training experience.)
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