Perseverance Pays Off

Student Earns Degree After 39-year Journey

Determination, dedication, and opportunity are key ingredients for academic success—just look at David Press, an Eastern Oregon University alum who recently completed his 39-year academic journey. The flexibility of EOU’s online courses and programs allowed him to pursue his dream despite life’s obstacles.

David’s educational journey began in 1984, with an aspiration to become a child psychologist. Despite facing advanced thyroid cancer during his freshman year at a college near his Dayton, Ohio home, David never stopped believing he could earn his degree.

Over the next four decades, he attended several schools, taking classes and working towards his degree, but in 2020 it was a comment from his young son that surprised, then inspired David to return to higher education and earn a degree.

Amid the challenges of the pandemic, David noticed his son,Isaac, disengaged from online classes. This prompted him to have a conversation

with his son about the importance of education. Isaac’s response: “So Dad, if it’s so important, why didn’t you finish?”

His son’s response struck a chord and re-energized David’s commitment to complete his educational journey.

Now working in clinical care, he admits he was taken aback by the comment, but inspired to walk that last mile. From his home in Arvada, Colorado, David chose EOU’s online platform for its quality and flexibility.

One of the most transfer-friendly schools in Oregon, EOU’s transfer policy allows students who have not completed their degree at other institutions to work with academic advisors and utilize previously earned credits to create a plan to take them to graduation.  

EOU works with each student individually based on their needs and goals. 

“An in-depth review of a student’s entire college career, by multiple departments, ends up creating a pathway for students to graduate,” Transcript Evaluator-Articulation Specialist, Brooke Hewitt said. “When we are looking at a student’s documents to help overcome obstacles, we evaluate the individual student’s experiences and records as a whole and come up with the best plan for the student based on their needs.”

In the fall of 2023, David received the phone call he had been waiting for with confirmation from the EOU’s Office of the Provost that he would, indeed, graduate.

“Are you joking? Is this a joke?” David exclaimed. “I was flabbergasted; I was literally in tears.”

Today, David provides psychological therapy to people in nursing homes. He manages psychologists and licensed social workers, and he hopes to one day earn a Master’s in Counseling—another lifelong ambition.

For now, he hopes his accomplishment will inspire his son.

“The best part was when I picked up my son and told him I was going to graduate. He hugged me and in that moment, every late night was worth it. It was worth it to show him not to give up,” David said. “Maybe, just don’t take 39 years!”