Our people: Giving second chances

The writer didn't share his last name in his email to The News, just that his name is Dan and an instructor at Clovis Community College impressed him.

Dan wrote: "I was recently a GED student at Clovis Community College. I graduated with my HSE (High School Equivalency) diploma in June. On my journey to get my GED I met and had an awesome instructor who himself was once a GED student. His name is William Cochran. Mr. Cochran is such an inspiration to his students and only wants the best for them."

Will Cochran shared the story of his journey with us Thursday.

Q: What's the story of you and your life in Clovis?

A: "I was born in Portales and raised in Clovis.

I went to Parkview Elementary School, Yucca and Marshall middle schools and Clovis High School."

Q: Tell us about your family.

A: "My wife Michelle is from Clayton. We met when we worked together at Lowe's supermarket in Farwell. I worked carryout and she was the assistant manager. She was my boss then and still is.

Our daughter Jennifer works for the help desk at the Clovis office of Yesway/Allsup's.

We have a granddaughter, Mahkayla, born in 2021. She's my world right now, my second boss. She changed my life.

My dad lives in West Camp near Muleshoe."

Q: So you dropped out of high school.

A: "I started getting into trouble in the 11th grade. I didn't like school, school wasn't for me. I was a smart aleck, I was disrespectful to teachers, I would skip school.

When I met Michelle I had to be responsible and had to get a job. I got a job at a pallet company. The money was good. I thought it was a great job, I thought it would last forever. Then that job ended.

I got another job in home health care. I worked that job for 15 or 16 years. That's when I realized I wanted to do more; I wanted to go to college to be a nurse.

Michelle started college at CCC.

She mentioned the free GED courses here. That's when I got started with getting my GED."

Q: Tell us about your education after getting your GED.

A: "I got my GED in 2015. I never thought I'd complete it. I had to work hard to get it. I had to take some tests over. It was tough.

When I got it I went 'Wow.' I was excited.

Then I started classes at CCC. I graduated with three associate degrees: liberal arts, behavioral science and general education.

I am now finishing my bachelor of social work degree at ENMU.

Q: What exactly do you do at CCC and what do you like about it?

A: "I am the adult educational instructional coordinator. I teach all the GED classes: Social studies, science, language arts and math.

What I like is I make a connection in being an instructor, I love connecting with the students.

Every time a student reaches a goal that they have, for instance, for many students just to be able to get to class with all they have to do with home and work, it's amazing.

I want to give. I was given a second chance. I wanted to show others they are capable of a second chance in receiving their GED.

It's my passion, it's my heart, this GED program."

Q: What do you do in your personal time?

A: "I like to spend time with my granddaughter.

We go to the park, I push her on the swing, let her go down the slide. That's one of the words she's learned, 'slide.'

We went to the Curry County Fair and she saw the giant slide there and said, 'Slide. Slide. Slide' so we had to go.

She went right up it. I held her as we went down. I was more afraid than she was. We went down a few times."

Q: Do you have a favorite food?

A: "Red beef enchiladas. My wife makes the best. Leal's is a close second."

Q: What is your favorite saying?

A: "I have a favorite quote from (American poet) Robert Frost: 'Two roads diverged in the woods. And I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.'"