Turning it around
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 10:08 AM PDT
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| Steve Lomax poses while waiting for the GED graduation ceremony to begin at the Four Rivers Cultural Center. |
ONTARIO — Steve Lomax, 28, left New Mexico for the Gem State, seeking a new job and a new life.
“I just decided to move,” he said. “I packed my car up and drove up here,” he said.
What he encountered in Idaho, though, were more challenges after the economy deteriorated. He arrived in Payette in June 2008 but quickly realized there were no jobs in construction, which had been booming.
That’s when Lomax decided to refocus his energies and go back to school.
The decision to journey back to school proved to be fortuitous for Lomax and evidence of the wisdom of the move came last Friday when he stood in line as one of the GED graduates at Treasure Valley Community College. Lomax said he understood that he needed a GED or a high school diploma to be successful in the workforce.
With little money, Lomax said he had to make some sacrifices to secure his GED.
“I rode my bicycle from Payette,” Lomax said. “I set out at 7 a.m.”
In addition to his studies, Lomax said he was also working full-time, having found a job at Wingers.
“I had to do something, he said. Having secured his GED earlier, Lomax has been attending college since January and completed two quarters at the community college.
“I’m majoring in history at the college. I’m passing all my classes — even math,” he said.
For right now, Lomax said his immediate goal is to finish his Associate Degree, but he has not decided definitely where he wants to go from there. His main focus is U.S. History.
“I love it,” he said. “The history teacher (Gerry Hampshire) is awesome.”
Lomax said, he also enjoys his History of Western Civilization class. He has been taking 12 credits each quarter, while working 30 hours per week.
It was more than just looking for work that cause Lomax to leave New Mexico, he said.
“I had an alcohol problem. When I was drunk I had no future,” he said.
Now after year-and-a-half sobriety, and counting, “I have a future,” Lomax said.
“I feel pretty good,” he said, adding that returning to school to get his GED was the right choice. It was the doorway to allow him to get into college.
