Beginning A New Chapter -- catching up on previous students
Editor's note: This concludes an occasional series profiling students who are remaking themselves, finding a second career to overcome personal or economic hardships.
Mark "Bo" Marshall: "Making a new start"
Sixteen quarters into his schooling, Bo Marshall is getting anxious to finish.
He's nearing the end of his quest to remake his career, nearly four years after a debilitating injury and a life-changing decision. In December, he will graduate from Lower Columbia College as a registered nurse.
Marshall, featured Oct. 17 in The Daily News, is slogging through his last courses and working for St. John Medical Center, where he hopes to work full time after graduation.
"The best part of college is that you walk away with something," said Marshall, 37. "There are some lessons in there that I will never forget."
Marshall traded a hammer for a stethoscope four years ago after he hurt his back building cabinetry at Northstar Yachts at the Port of Kalama. He knew his physical labor career was finished, and his wife urged him to try his hand at college. The end now is in sight, said Marshall, who has three children with his wife, LeeAnndra.
"The thing that excites me the most is not only becoming a professional and getting the opportunity to work in the field, but my wife has been doing some extraordinary things for me the last four years, and I'm looking forward to telling her she can work, not work, go to school or do whatever," Marshall said. "Now it's my job to support her like she supported me."
Sarah Jasmer: "Welding her life together"
Two years ago, Sarah Jasmer's 1988 Honda Accord forced her into the classroom. Now that it's gotten her through college, she's looking for a replacement.
For two years, Jasmer tucked away money from her minimum-wage service job to buy the car, which developed a $600 problem shortly after the purchase. It was the last straw for Jasmer, who was weary of living paycheck to paycheck. She went back to school.
Jasmer, featured Dec. 1 in The Daily News, now has finished her associate's degree in welding from Lower Columbia College. She wrapped up her studies after the winter quarter and netted a job at Rightline Equipment in Rainier, where she's welding parts for fork-lifts. She's making about $5 an hour more than her previous minumum-wage job.
"I have a feeling I'm just beginning," said Jasmer, 27, the single mother of a daughter. "It's cool I have an opportunity and the training to go somewhere different -- other than gas stations."
The day before LCC's graduation, Jasmer, who lives in Ridgefield, said she was feeling all aflutter about Friday's ceremony. "I've got butterflies in my stomach," said Jasmer, who had earned her high school equivalency. "It's my first graduation. This is 10 years after I should have graduated from high school."
"It feels pretty good."
Gary Spears: "Answering the voice of change"
His first love won't be replaced, but Gary Spears may have found a second affection.
Spears spent two decades capturing special moments on film, working as a photographer and owning a photo business. But the advent of digital photography pushed him to search for a more reliable and better-paying occupation.
The Longview resident started two years ago at Lower Columbia College, studying computer science. This spring he took 23 credits (12 credits are considered full time) to muscle through to the end.
During the spring, he and four others redesigned a student computer lab as a project, making it more user-friendly. Helping people will spark the same brand of passion he has for photography, said Spears, who graduated Friday from LCC.
Next up are studying for a certification exam this summer and beginning the job hunt in computer networking, "where I can start solving problems," said Spears, 42, who was featured Feb. 9 in The Daily News.
"I have a new outlook on this now," said Spears, who has a daughter with his wife, Debbie. "Next time you see a full-time college student, give 'em a pat on the back, because it takes a whole lot of discipline and commitment to do this."
Kathleen Wirtz: "A dream is reborn"
Kathleen Wirtz is one step closer to fulfilling a dream she abandoned more than two decades ago.
Wirtz, 50, finished her nursing prerequisites this spring at Lower Columbia College. In August, she will attend Linfield College's Portland campus to study nursing. Afterward, she plans to pursue a master's degree in midwifery.
More than two decades ago, Wirtz had dreamed of becoming a midwife and had been accepted to LCC's nursing program. But after her first son was born prematurely, she decided to tend her own children instead of welcoming babies into the world.
The Kelso resident found fulfillment raising five kids, along with her husband, Steve, and in volunteering her time, most recently as the director of Cowlitz County Habitat for Humanity.
But with the birth of her first grandchild two years ago, her long-slumbering dream was reawakened. So in January 2005, Wirtz went back to the classroom.
This summer, Wirtz, featured April 27 in The Daily News, plans to spend time with her family before taking on the next four years of schooling.
"I have two more graduations ahead of me," she said. "I'm just really excited to continue through the whole process."
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