Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Murders at Crater Lake: The slaying of auto-parts reps in 1952 remains a mystery ... Our View: Law lets lobbyists keep public in the dark ... Britt commissions NY composer Michael Gordon to capture Crater Lake in sound ... Murders at Crater Lake: The slaying of auto-parts reps in 1952 remains a mystery ... Our View: Law lets lobbyists keep public in the dark ... Britt commissions NY composer Michael Gordon to capture Crater Lake in sound ... EDUCATION Crater dropout says graduating high school would've saved him time and money Crater dropout says graduating would've saved him time and money Comment By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News When he dropped out of high school three days into his junior year, Casey Osuna thought he had it all figured out. “I wasn't too worried,” he recalled. “I figured, I’ll do something.” After all, he had a minimum-wage job pumping gas and doing general maintenance work at the Pilot Travel Center in Central Point. And earning a GED was simple next to dealing with his high school teachers and overly dramatic peers. “I was over it and was done dealing with all the stupid drama that comes with just showing up,” he said. “I knew I could find a better way to spend my time, either working or doing whatever.” But “whatever” turned out to be cleaning hair out of the drains in the truckers’ showers at Pilot, and later selling flowers for FTD. “I was constantly applying for jobs, but I didn't have my GED yet, didn't have my diploma or any formal education,” he said. “I know people who are highly educated but still pretty stupid, but that piece of paper makes all the difference.” According to Osuna’s Facebook profile, he graduated from the “School of Hard Knocks” in 2012 — the year he would have graduated from Crater School of Business Innovation Science. By then, he had realized how much he’d taken his high school education for granted and had enrolled in classes at Rogue Community College. This June, Osuna, now 21, will graduate from RCC with an associate of applied sciences degree in automotive technology and become the first in his family to earn a college degree. He currently works at Hurley Automotive in Central Point but would eventually like to run his own automotive shop, rebuilding engines, transmissions, front ends and rear ends. The degree has taken him 3½ years to earn and will cost him more than $22,000. It would have taken him a lot less time and cost him a lot less money if he’d finished or at least paid attention in high school, he now realizes. “I regret not learning the material in high school when it wasn't costing me anything,” he said. “I don’t think I passed a single math class at Crater, but I had to take the same math class four times in college because I hadn't paid attention in high school.” That math class, he said, cost him $400 a term. Nonetheless, his perseverance is commendable. Osuna’s freshman English teacher, Frank Bertrand, a teacher with whom he got along in Crater BIS, encouraged Osuna not to drop out of high school. Bertrand knew Osuna was interested in mechanics and lifted trucks and drove him to RCC’s White City campus to meet with the head of the diesel technology program. “Before we left, the guy said to Casey, ‘I don’t want to see you again until you have a diploma in your hand,’ and I turned to Casey and said, ‘Did you hear that?’ ” Bertrand said. “He said he got it, but he clearly didn't get it.” Osuna dropped out of high school shortly after but maintained contact with Bertrand, who meets him at Bobbio’s Pizza once a year. “High school comes too early for some of these kids,” Bertrand said. “There should be a coupon they can redeem when they’re mature enough. “Typically, once they drop out, they’re done,” he added. “They don’t usually turn it around like (Osuna) has. That’s been my experience at least.” But Osuna is smart and a quick learner, and time in the real world did mature him, Bertrand said. Last year, Bertrand invited Osuna to speak to his freshman classes about his high school and college experience. Osuna was straightforward with the ninth-graders. He told them high school didn't work for him. He told them about his frustrations with his high school teachers. And he told them about his attitude. “It seemed to me like the teachers were always trying to tell you how the rest of your life was going to be,” Osuna said. “But they didn't know s--- about s---, and telling them that was my problem.” But Osuna also told Bertrand’s students that despite its faults, high school would have saved him a lot of time and money. "It would have been a lot faster if I'd just finished high school," he said. Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected] . Follow her at  www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt . By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501