When David Hill told his supervisor he was tired of working seven days a week, he wasn’t expecting a life-altering response. “He looked me dead in the eye and said, ‘If you don’t like it, you can either quit or go to school,’” Hill recalls. “I didn’t talk to him for three weeks.” 

That comment, blunt and dismissive as it was, planted a seed. Tired, burnt out, and feeling stuck in a routine, Hill made an unexpected stop at Northeastern Technical College. What followed was a decision that changed the course of his life, not just once, but twice. 

Today, Hill holds two associate degrees from NETC: General Technology (Mechanical & Electrical) and Pre-Engineering. He didn’t stop there. After graduating in May 2024, he returned the following Monday to enroll again, this time in Business Administration and Management. 

“After I walked across that stage, I went home, sat at my desk, looked at my computer and realized... I wasn’t satisfied. I wasn’t done,” Hill says. 

Starting Over at 43 



Like many adult learners, Hill wasn’t sure he belonged in college. “I was scared. I was embarrassed,” he says. “I was 43 years old and walking into a room full of people half my age.” But what started as intimidation quickly became inspiration. The faculty and staff, including his admissions counselor, Ms. Van, welcomed him with encouragement and clarity. 

“She helped me with everything, from applying to figuring out FAFSA. That first day, I was the only one who hadn’t filled it out. I almost walked out from embarrassment,” he admits. “But she stayed and helped me through it all. That made all the difference.” 

Hill compares the beginning of his college journey to learning to walk again. “It was like being a baby, brand new and unsure of everything.” 

Balancing Work, School, and Sacrifice 

When Hill started at NETC, he was still working seven days a week. “It wasn’t easy. I’d get home at 3:30, start schoolwork by 4, and stay up until 1 or 2 in the morning doing assignments,” he recalls. “I sacrificed time with my family, time with my friends. But I knew I wanted more.” 

That determination paid off. After earning his first degree, he created a resume and attended a local job fair. “Not only did I finally get off the seven-day schedule, but I doubled my salary,” Hill says. 

Still, he wasn’t finished. He returned for a second degree in business and convinced a new employer to adjust his schedule so he could continue classes. “I told them I needed Mondays off for class until December. They said yes.” 

Proving the Doubters Wrong 

Along the way, Hill faced doubt from others and sometimes from himself. “Guys I worked with told me I was too old. That it was too late. That I wouldn’t finish.” That was all the motivation he needed. “I got out of my own head. I decided I was going to prove them wrong.” 

Now 47, Hill has plans to transfer to Lander University to pursue his bachelor’s in Business Management. He’s also in contact with USC. “I’m not done yet,” he smiles. 



Advice for Other Adult Learners 

To anyone thinking it’s too late to go back to school, Hill has a message: “It’s never too late. We all do things in our own time. Some of us had to raise families or take care of others. But when you’re ready, really ready, you’ll make it happen.” 

And for those who are nervous, ashamed, or overwhelmed? “Let that be your motivation,” he says. “If I can do it, working seven days a week, taking five classes at once, you can do it.” 

His biggest regret? “Not starting 25 years ago.” 

More Than a Degree 



While the credentials and career success are important, Hill says what he’s most proud of is the community he found at NETC. 

“I built real relationships with the staff, the faculty, even the janitors. People knew me, checked in on me, celebrated my wins,” he says. “This place changed me, professionally and personally.” 

And if he could leave new students with one tip, it would be this: “Don’t wait. Don’t procrastinate. Get your work done early. Stay ahead. The instructors here are incredible, and they want to help you succeed. But you have to show up. You have to want it.” 

David Hill wanted it, and he made it happen.