3 Students, One Lesson: It’s Never Too Late

River's Edge • By •

3 Local Students Who Prove It’s Never Too Late to Finish College

Balancing Work, Family, and Bills—They Still Found a Way Back to School

Life Doesn’t Pause for College

For many people, going back to school feels out of reach. Jobs, kids, and bills keep piling up, and “someday” always gets pushed further away. But Jesse, Beverly, and Rachel—three students from northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri—are living proof that it’s never too late to finish what you started. Their paths were different, but each found their way back to Black River Technical College (BRTC), and in doing so, discovered not just careers but a better quality of life.

Jesse: From Army Boots to CNC Machines

At 17, Jesse put on an Army uniform and served his country for eight years. After leaving the military, he worked welding and factory jobs—whatever kept food on the table for his family of five. Seventeen years had passed since he’d been in a classroom, and the idea of going back felt impossible.

Then a friend introduced him to machining. He realized this wasn’t just another job—it could be a future. With support from BRTC, Jesse enrolled in Machine Tool Technology. Today, he works at Ranger Tool & Die in Paragould, earning steady pay in a career that makes his kids proud.

See how you can start your own journey.

 

Beverly: From Real Estate to Nursing

Beverly’s early plan was to earn a degree right after high school, but life had other plans. Motherhood came first, and college had to wait. To support her family, she built a career in real estate, balancing clients, sales, and home life.

But deep down, she knew she still wanted more. When the timing was right, she came back to BRTC and chose Nursing—a field with stability, demand, and purpose. Balancing family, work, and school wasn’t simple. There were nights when studying happened after her kids were asleep. But she kept showing up.

Now, Beverly is just one semester away from graduating. She has turned persistence into progress, showing that you don’t need the “perfect moment” to go back—you just need the courage to take the first step.

Discover how you can take the first step too.

 

 

Rachel: From Loss to Leadership in Healthcare

Rachel’s story is one of quiet strength. She spent years working as a nutritionist at a local school district, but always felt pulled toward healthcare. Along the way, she faced the loss of both her daughter and her mother—moments that could have stopped her journey entirely. Instead, those experiences deepened her resolve to care for others.

Learn how going back—even years later—can still work for you.

At BRTC, she chose Respiratory Therapy—a field with high demand and pay ranging from $22 to $60 an hour. Today, she works at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, providing care with a perspective few others have. For Rachel, returning to school wasn’t just about career growth. It was about honoring her past, building her future, and proving to herself—and to her children—that you can keep moving forward no matter what.

A Message to Anyone Still Wondering

Jesse came back after 17 years. Beverly balanced real estate and raising kids. Rachel carried her life experiences into a new career in healthcare. None of them had an easy road, but all of them found a way forward.

Their stories prove something simple but powerful: going back to college as an adult is not about starting over—it’s about continuing what you already began. More stability, better paychecks, and new confidence are possible.

And if they could do it—so can you.

Yes, You Can. And Here’s the Proof.