A-B Tech student Eric Velez, 65, is graduating in May with an Associate in Science degree, the next step in pursuit of his childhood dream of becoming a physician.
When other boys his age were flipping through comic books, Velez was checking out library books on the human body. His dream of becoming a doctor was put on hold when, still in high school, Velez and his longtime sweetheart got pregnant, and the 18-year-old settled into marriage, a family, and a career as a journeyman carpenter in his native San Francisco. Carpentry school at that time provided a quicker entry into a stable career, and any dreams of medical life faded away. But not altogether. Now, after retiring from a 30-year career as a captain with the Asheville fire department, Velez is pursuing his third act.
Velez is a well-known personality on A-B Tech’s campus. Gregarious and chatty, the older student jumped into campus life with both feet. In his two years as a student, he was a DJ who played dance music on Beech Tree Deck, volunteered at many events, and helped found Nuestra Voz, the college's first Spanish club. Velez, whose parents are from Nicaragua and Puerto Rico, grew up speaking Spanish. He engaged in campus activities while juggling a full-time load of classes, including physics, biology, and chemistry. Why would any retiree subject themselves to such challenges? Why not just grow prize-winning dahlias or relax on the couch?
Velez admits he was faced with this question when he told family and friends his plans to go back to school. He is self-assured in his answer: “It’s relaxing for me to learn and be part of a student body. The more I learn and accomplish, it empowers and energizes me. It keeps me young because I’m interacting with fellow students. I get energy from them.”
It is one thing to dream, another to bring a dream to life. When asked if his college experience has been all he thought it would be, Velez answered quickly: “Yes. My profs have been wonderful. Professor (Suzanne) Willis, my chemistry professor, has been an inspiration; the way she teaches, the support she gave me. And, I was able to go to the tutoring lab for help. It was always there.”
Now, wrapping up final exams, Velez is awaiting his life’s next phase. His cap and gown are ready for Commencement, and his family is traveling to Asheville to celebrate with him. What's next? With several applications to four-year colleges in North Carolina and California pending, the only thing to do now is wait.
“It’s nerve-racking,” Velez reflects. “I’m at a crossroads. It’s also exciting. It makes you nervous about where you’re going to go, what you’re going to do next.”
No matter what’s ahead, Velez feels good that he’s doing his part to pursue his childhood dream. “I’m moving in the direction of what I want to be. I encourage people who are thinking about going back to school but are afraid they won’t fit in with younger students to move ahead. It has been wonderful for me. It could change someone’s life in a positive way.”
Photo above depicts Velez in his DJ headphones on Beech Tree Deck last summer.
