I remember my mother telling me all the time that I should go to college and follow my dream of being an MBA. When she died just after my 16th birthday, I kind of lost interest in any of that. As my father had died when I was nine, I had no one to live with or push me to achieve that goal.

I went to live with my aunt and uncle until I graduated from high school and immediately joined the Air Force to keep from being drafted. I spent nearly 10 years in the Air Force earning various ribbons and medals, but I still felt like something was missing. After I was more or less forced out of the Air Force because of my weight, I went to work for the Defense Logistics Agency which is the procurement arm of the Military. I worked for them for nearly ten years until my arthritis, and back and hip injuries, got me down. I could not do the work any more and had to quit.

It took me nearly 4 years to get the VA and Social Security to admit that I was disabled and to start receiving disability payments. At this time, I also qualified for a VA program in which I could go to school and they would pay for it.

I had taken some courses during the years from a junior college and decided to go to the University Of North Texas to finish my degree. It was a very good day in May of 1995 when I received my Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Production Management.

I started having problems being around other people at this time, and I am told it is a common thing among Vietnam Veterans, and could not continue going to class to further my degree.

I found a college on the Internet headquartered in Houston that offered courses and degrees over the web.

After completion of the required courses and tests, I received my Master's of Business Administration in Production Management in May of 1997.

Thirty years after graduation from high school, I finally got to achieve the dream my mother shared with me.

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