American Public University political science student Robert Garrison is working steadily toward a career in politics and someday having a home and family.
“I want my version of the American dream,” he says. His path toward that goal may be a little different than most. Garrison has cerebral palsy. He has used a wheelchair for 21 of his 25 years. He sometimes has difficulty writing and needs his family’s support for daily activities. But his challenges are no match for his determination and love of learning.
“Education has always been a central focus of my life,” Garrison says. “I knew I couldn’t do things like sports. I just knew that I was blessed with a sharp intellect. I soaked up knowledge every day that I went to school.”
Garrison had been taking classes at his local community college in Washington. He was working toward an associate degree, with a political science concentration. A bachelor’s degree was the next step. That posed new challenges since the nearest university was not in his hometown.
“Living on my own right now is not a possibility,” he says. A professor suggested online learning might be an option and sent him links to online universities.
“Online learning has exactly what I was looking for,” he says. Many schools offer both a bachelor’s and master’s program in political science. He could study from home, when it worked best for him. Garrison is even able to pay the tuition himself, despite his limited income.
Garrison applied on a Monday. By the end of the week, he began registering for courses. He says he couldn’t wait any longer for his future to begin.
“My life changed in one week’s time,” he says. Garrison worked with an admissions specialist to maximize his credit transfers. He was able to transfer enough community college credit to enter school more than halfway toward earning his bachelor’s degree.
Garrison has taken research courses and elective courses so far. He has particularly enjoyed the criminal justice courses and the new knowledge he is gaining regarding the legal system.
“I have always had the mind of a researcher,” he says. Garrison enjoys posting comments on the discussion board, as opposed to open discussions in class. He says the process of writing leads to more thoughtful responses. He also enjoys the concentrated eight-week course options, since he likes to completely focus on a subject. For his constitutional law class, for example, he completed the textbook before class began.
Garrison says an online education has opened up a new future for him.
“I want to do some consulting work first and then I hope to build up enough finances to mount my own campaign for office someday,” he says. “My dream job would be to serve in the U.S. Senate and maybe make a run for president. Who knows? The possibilities are endless in politics.”
He admires how former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt overcame his own physical limitations.
“I want to reach out to those with disabilities and tell them that you can get a degree,” Garrison says. “The answer for me -- and I hope for others -- is American Public University.”
