Rafael Pineda, computer information systems
Rafael Pineda began his college education in 1975, and some 30 years later, he received his bachelor’s in CIS this May. For most of the three decades, he took one or two classes a semester simply because he enjoyed learning, but after he was laid off two years ago and his pending degree became one of the biggest reasons he was able to land a new job, he found new worth and respect for what a college education could deliver.

Now 51, Pineda entered his first class at Santa Monica College in 1975 undoubtedly without a thought that he would walk away a college graduate more than 30 years later. Because he always piled his coursework on top of a full-time career, it took him almost 10 years to complete his associate’s in electronics technology at SMC, which helped him land a job with BAE Systems as a CAD designer. A part of the benefits package was tuition reimbursement so he started taking computer information systems classes at CSUDH. During those early years, there were a few times when his 60-hour-a-week workload caused him to put his studies on hold for a few years, but in 1998, he returned and has continued a tortoise pace toward his B.S. ever since.

Then, that methodical plan took a turn two years ago when BAE, facing cuts across the aerospace industry, laid him off after 23 years. Undaunted, Pineda continued to take classes at the same rate, paying for them himself while looking for another job. With so many years in the aerospace industry, he assumed a position would not be hard to find. Eight months later, Raytheon hired him as a senior configuration analyst, but what he discovered was that while his experience was valued, what really got him the job was his pending diploma.

“That completely changed my perspective. It made me really appreciate that I had continued to go to school and continued the effort to complete my degree,” he says. “Raytheon knew I was close to finishing school and that played a big part in why I got the job I did.”

Such a continued commitment was not easy. As the years rolled by, there were plenty of reasons and excuses why Pineda could have simply stopped signing up for classes. Now, the “what if” thought of him giving up at some time in the past is chilling because his degree became such a key ingredient in his new career. That hit home when he began helping a friend find a job who was also laid off but lacked a college education.

“He came back from a job fair and said, ‘you have no idea how important that degree is for you. I wish I had done the same,’” says Pineda.

Another twist of fate is that many of the classes Pineda never thought he’d put to use during his generation-long matriculation have been at the core of his new job with Raytheon. Instead of using his tested CAD and drafting skills, he’s relied more upon the other business administration classes he’s taken.

Now with his diploma in hand, he still puts in 55 to 60 hour weeks, but looks forward to the added bonus of personal time. He speaks wistfully of visiting Europe and Russia and reading for pleasure for the first time in many years, instead of for his course assignments.

Though graduation marked a major achievement and end to an era of his life, Pineda had no big celebrations, and he was similarly reticent to laud his accomplishment, and was cajoled into saying, “I feel proud of my very humble achievement.” But to many who face the competing challenges of life and continuing toward their degree, he should serve as much more: an inspiration of what such a commitment can deliver.

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