How many high school dropouts do you think go on to make $60,000 a year, go back to school, and get their bachelor’s degree?  Not many, I’m sure — which is why I like to brag about my husband’s accomplishments every chance I get.

Not many people would guess by looking at him that he dropped out of high school when he was just fifteen.  He worked full time for years, during a period when most kids are partying and shirking responsibilities.  After he moved to Denver he got the job he still has now, more than a decade and $35,000 in raises later.

Until very recently, his company has offered a tuition reimbursement program, which — thanks to the influence of a good friend of his — my husband has been taking advantage of.  It’s taken him many years, since he’s also been working full time, but he is now just half a dozen classes or so from graduating with his bachelor’s degree.

Unfortunately, in recent years his company has stopped paying for all degrees and instead just started paying for business-related degrees.  Since my husband is getting his degree in history, that means he has had to look for other ways to reduce tuition expenses.  Since he comes from a working class family, he can’t count on the expected family contribution many students have, so he’s having to pay for the rest of his degree himself.

I have a lot of respect for people who work and put themselves through college — and I’m proud that my husband is one of them!

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