Yes, I can!

So sitting here at 8 pm on a Monday night winding down after having attended an all day meeting that explored using social media to reach out to people; i.e. blogging, twitter and such.  Also thinking about the recent elections and the power behind the “yes we can” verbiage used in the campaign for President.  Thinking to myself that everyone has “yes we can” moments throughout our lives and having talked “blogs” all day long, I’d like to share my moment with my Herzing College family and perhaps anyone else who is listening.

Several years ago, prior to working for Herzing College, I worked for the Technical College system and received a call one summer day in 2002 from an elderly lady. Strikingly crass and grumpy she had called to find out about computer classes that were available at the community center I managed in northern Wisconsin for her grandson who had just graduated from high school. I gave her my sales pitch, got her address, sent her some information and honestly didn’t give it another thought.

A couple of weeks later I was at the center and one of my instructors came into the classroom I was puttering around in and said “There is someone here to see you”. I thought it odd as no one really even knew I was at the center, not even my staff, I just happened to stop in. I went on into the waiting area to find a little old lady sitting next to a young kid. I said “Hi” and at the moment she opened her mouth I knew EXACTLY who she was. She just had a bigger than life, in your face personality; she was a fighter. We started to talk about the classes and signing her grandson Robbie up. She went on to tell me that Robbie would need more time than others to complete the class, the classes were self paced so it really didn’t matter but she was adamant that I make sure the instructors knew he would need more time.

This whole time we chatted, Robbie sat in total silence with his hands on his lap, looking down at the table; she demanded so much of my attention that I hadn’t even looked at him. After telling me yet again that Robbie would need extra time, she reached under the table and grabbed his hand, bringing it to the surface and harshly dropping it on the table saying “SEE” and pointing to his hand. My mouth dropped or at least it felt like it did. Robbie had no hands. Not hands like you and I have. He suffers from Aperts Syndrome – http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic122.htm – and basically has three large digits on each hand the size that are about the thickness and size of four of my fingers combined.  People suffering from Aperts also don’t have any joints or ability to bend like your fingers or my fingers. Upon seeing Robbie’s hands I immediately went into counselor mode, telling them about our special needs department, tutors, etc. Robbie’s grandmother wanted nothing to do with it; she just wanted Robbie in the class and some extra time.

Giving into her demands, it came time to decide which class to enroll Robbie in. I suggested that we start with a basic Windows class, to get acclimated to the computer, how it works, etc. But no, Robbie wanted to be in Excel, he wanted to learn Excel. There was no arguing with his grandmother (I tried) so I took her $70.55 in tuition, had them fill out a registration form and told Robbie I would see him on the first night of class and that I would bring his textbook with me to class.

The first night of class

Robbie and grandmother showed up on time, grandma left telling Rob that she would be back in two hours to pick him up.

I gave Robbie his book.

He could not remove the plastic shrink wrap from the book.

I thought, “There is no way this kid is going to finish this course.”

I removed the plastic from Robbie’s book for him.

Robbie then couldn’t put his book in the book stand next to the computer and asked me for help.

I put his book in the bookstand and I thought, “There is no way this kid is going to finish this course.”

I pulled the instructor aside and asked her to watch Robbie, and to let me know the minute he needed help. I assumed that there was no way Robbie would be successful in the course.

Three days passed and I had not heard from the instructor. So I called her and asked, “How Robbie do?”

“He did fine.”

Robbie did more than fine

Robbie finished Excel in pace with the other students and got an A. Robbie then went on to take eight additional computer classes to earn a MS Software Certificate, straight A’s, except for Access Part 2, he got a B in that one. It took Rob two years to finish nine classes, one by one. Showing up for class like clockwork in between horrible surgeries where they were putting metal plates and screws in his head to fix bone deformities, Rob kept plugging along. Taking a break here and there because his grandma could not afford to pay for the class or the book; waiting while she saved up enough of their social security incomes to move forward. Mysteriously a “free” or “donated” book always seemed to be available for Robbie, they just happen to be lying about. It’s funny how things work out like that.

Robbie was a joy, always had a hug waiting for me. Smart, so smart and shiny so very, very shiny, a simply beautiful person behind an unfortunate shell. Smiling through everything life dealt him and overcoming any hurdle he set his mind to. His grandmother despite her tough exterior was a sweet lady too; a heart of gold, having to be tough to get things done for the grandson she had raised since birth.  She too always had a hug for me.  My education was found in those hugs.

After completing the Software Certificate, Robbie decided to pursue a Web Page Design Certificate that required a MAC computer and required that his 76 year old grandmother drive him 2.5 hours one way, twice a week for the classes. I put a MAC at the center and gave him a key to the building so he could come whenever he needed to do his homework (they couldn’t afford to buy one), DVR paid for his grandmother’s mileage removing one barrier to his education and Robbie started once again, taking one class at a time.

No boundaries for Robbie

The Green Bay Press Gazette was looking to the college for stories so I asked Robbie if he would like to tell his story and he did. One day the phone rang and an elderly lady told me the newspaper had given her my phone number and asked me for Robbie’s address. Because of privacy issues I couldn’t give out that information so I asked her why. She went on to say that she had saved up $2000 for a new computer but after reading Robbie’s story in the paper had decided that he needed it more than she did and she wanted to send him a check. She did.  Others did too.  The community rallied around Robbie; community is a beautiful thing.

When I left the college, Rob was working on finishing the Web Page certificate and planned on starting a business working from home building web pages. There is no doubt that he will reach the goal that he has set for himself. Robbie can do anything.  Robbie can be anything.

A picture of Robbie hangs above my desk, next to pictures of my kids. He taught me to never assume that someone “can’t” and that no matter who you are if you set your mind to something you can do it. One of the most valuable life lessons I’ve learned in my 37 years. There are no excuses to not see your goals come true, no matter what hurdles you face, be they physical, limitations thrust upon you by others or your own internal walls. The only true limitations we have are the ones we put on ourselves.

So now when a student calls and complains about trying to balance work and family and school or about some other hurdle they might be facing, I tell them about the boy with no hands who can navigate any computer you put in front of him and then I tell them to take “can’t” out of their vocabulary.  The lessons learned from Robbie and his grandmother will stay with me forever and have shaped the person I’ve become; especially when it comes to dreaming big, setting goals and seizing the future.

So dear friends, alumni, students and anyone else reading this…“You can. Yes you can.”  The journey to your goal won’t be completed in a day, but step by step, course by course, student by student, sale by sale, job by job, degree by degree, goal by goal or choice by choice.  Looking down the road at the path you traveled once you’ve reached your goal is a priceless gift that you can only earn; it isn’t handed to you, nor is the guarantee that it will be easy.

Reflection brings me to thinking about my next goal. There are a few.  Helping Herzing College be the best when it comes to providing career services, education and opportunity, keeping my staff happy and growing in their positions, watching my kids develop into young adults, continuing my own education and spreading Robbie’s  message, “yes you can” hoping to empower anyone who has doubts about themselves.

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Amy is the Director of Career Services at Herzing College Online and teaches career development courses for the online campus.  Residing in Milwaukee, WI she does volunteer work for several non-profit organizations and enjoys giving back to her community.

(If you have a “yes I can” story, please do share with us at Tickled by Life.)