May 15, 2025
Life takes many unexpected twists and turns. For Andrew Abbott, the decision to start a college degree at age 35 was definitely unexpected. But as he says, “It was now or never.”
Andrew, like so many GRCC students, returned to school after gaining a good taste of the working world.
“I started off in a warehouse doing general labor and repair,” Abbott said. “I moved from there to assembly, and then to supervisor. Eventually I started monkeying around with computer systems in the warehouse. I didn’t want to ask other people to fix something I should be able to fix myself! I had been thinking about going back to school for a while, and then the Michigan Reconnect program crossed my radar. Since GRCC is local for me, I decided to take advantage of my tax dollars and make use of that opportunity.”
Andrew’s innate ability and personal drive gained his employer’s attention, and they offered him a position in the information technology (IT) department.
“My employer preferred someone with a degree for the position, but it was not a requirement,” Abbott said. “I told them I was going back to school. With that, plus my previous experience, they offered me a position. I originally chose a biomedical degree but then switched to computer science.”
Balancing the needs of a wife, kids and a full-time job while earning a degree has not been an easy task for Andrew.
“I’m only able to take two classes each semester,” Abbott said. “So my two-year associate degree is turning into a five-year degree! I’m learning a lot of technical aspects of computer science, and it takes work to keep up with all the information coming at me. But that’s okay. When I’m done, I’ll have a piece of paper that proves I know what I say I know.”
Andrew says that without financial aid, this degree would not have been possible. He took full advantage of all the opportunities, including a Pell Grant and Michigan Reconnect. Michigan Reconnect is a last-dollar scholarship program that pays for students to attend in-district community college tuition-free. Eligible students are those who have lived in Michigan for a year or more and are at least 25 years old. They have a high school diploma, high school equivalency (GED), or certificate of completion but have not yet completed a college degree (associate or bachelor’s).
“It would have been really hard to afford this without Michigan Reconnect,” Abbott said. “That financial support definitely provided a strong incentive. After all…who wants to go back to school at age 35? But I couldn’t afford not to do it.”
His hard work will pay off, because computer science is a high-demand career. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 23% growth for computer science and information technology jobs between 2022 and 2032 — a much faster than average growth rate, which may indicate continued demand for workers with tech skills as society continues to incorporate technology into everyday life.
Andrew likes his employer and looks forward to putting his computer science skills to use.
“There are plans to help me move up,” Abbott said. “I am doing some junior network administrator work now, as time allows. I also do a lot of hands-on equipment repair and some troubleshooting for our computers and copiers.”
Earning a degree is a big deal for GRCC students like Andrew, many of whom are first-generation college graduates.
“No one in my family has a college degree,” Abbott said. “I will be 41 by the time I’m done, and I will be the first person in my family to achieve this goal. By spring of 2026, I will be done and happy I achieved my goal!”
Learn more about GRCC’s computer information systems programs.
This story reported by Julie Hordyk