Scholar Spotlight: Brad King
By chance, through a Facebook group in 2022, Brad King found a link that changed the trajectory of his life. Through a connection with the Ohio Graduation Alliance, Brad was able to take courses to fulfill missing high school credits and earn his high school diploma, nearly 10 years after starting that process in earnest.
“Not having my diploma always brought me down and lowered my self-confidence,” he said. “I felt less without having it.”
Growing up in Price Hill, he attended Western Hills Technical Design School. Although he had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to help him overcome academic challenges, he struggled with math and eventually dropped out of school.
During most of his twenties, Brad was a pro-wrestler and worked in customer service, as he found it difficult to get a better paying job without a diploma and post-secondary education. His chance Facebook encounter not only led him to that diploma, but also eventually led him to The Chatfield Edge by way of one of its partners, Community Matters.
With support from Chatfield, Brad enrolled in online classes at Miami University (Oxford) where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He hopes to one day become a therapist so he can assist adults in overcoming obstacles associated with mental illness.
For now, he appreciates the support he receives from Chatfield’s team. “They motivate me and encourage me to get things done,” he said. “And the financial help is great because I am not worried about the extra expenses of school.” Brad is the recipient of the Theodore C. Wagenaar Scholarship and the Clement and Ann Buenger Scholarship.
Although he currently works as a part-time security guard, Brad continues to draw life lessons from his days as a pro-wrestler in the independent scene. While recently writing an essay for an English class, he noted three similarities between the two disciplines. “In both English and wrestling, a person needs to build credibility, their moves must make sense, and they need to be in touch with their emotions.” Brad appears to be applying all three to his educational pursuits as a first-generation college student.
When asked what advice he would give to his 15-year-old self, he quipped, “Well, the lottery numbers, for sure!” He quickly followed up with this: “I would tell him that it’s going to be a long road to figure things out, but the road will be there in the end.”
If you or someone you know is a non-traditional or first-generation student looking to further your goals through college, trade school, or a certificate program, contact David Hesson at david.hesson@chatfieldedge.org or 513-875-3344 ext. 115. We are here to help you gain success in life through education.
