BATESVILLE - Leaving a job field after 23 years is difficult but it paid off for a 2003 University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville graduate who graduated with honors from Arkansas State University Saturday with a master's degree in physical therapy.
Bill Bailey stared taking classes at the encouragement of his wife, Kathy. He said at 42 he was faced with the realization that he had made some bad choices in his life like most people do; however, his home and land were paid for so when his wife told him to go back to school, he filled out the application and enrolled in classes.
"I had been in a field for 23 years and I was not happy with it," he said. "I walked away. I took the only job I could find and was eventually laid off. I had always wanted to get my bachelor's degree and had even taken some classes while I was in the service. When my wife (Kathy) said go back to school, I did."
When he completed the application at UACCB he also applied for a non-traditional scholarship, which he received. He said this helped him pay for his classes and he found a part-time job. "I first thought that I wanted to be an X-ray technician but after getting a job part-time at the hospital as a rehab tech, I realized I wanted to go a different route."
He found out about the physical therapy assistant program at ASU and started taking pre-requisite courses at UACCB in hopes of transferring and completing the PTA program, a program which he completed in 2005.
However, at that point, he knew he wanted to do more. "As a PTA you have to follow a plan of care and I wanted to have more say," he said. "I knew it was possible and I applied for the master's program. It has been a long road. I could not have done it alone. You need a support system. My wife has carried a lot on her shoulders. My in-laws have been great and my church family. You need those individuals there saying you can do this, I'm praying for you."
He said if UACCB had not been here, it's hard to say if he would have continued his education. "It would have been more difficult and the costs would have been greater." "Going to a community college allowed me to test the waters and see where I wanted to go. I was awarded a scholarship and it was close to home. That made it possible. I'm glad it was here. I've developed lifelong relationships that would not have otherwise been formed."
He said during his time at UACCB he spent countless hours in the library and received great advice and support from the staff. He said it was also comforting to see other non-traditional students.
He said he also realized how much his life experiences had prepared him for this. "I don't think I would have done this as a young man," he said. "Community colleges give you the confidence about where you are going and what you are jumping into."
While at UACCB Bailey joined Phi Theta Kappa, a two-year honor society, was an honor graduate and describes his experience as positive.
"The classes at UACCB were great and most of the instructors went the extra mile. They take it personally. They make sure you are prepared and they did not make it easy on us. The instructors really pushed us to excel."
