Despite A Few Setbacks, JJC Student Veteran Prepares To Graduate

Graduation season will be here before we know it. As we inch closer to May, Lamas Alexander realizes he is one step closer to his dream. The student veteran will soon earn an Associate degree in General Studies from Joliet Junior College (JJC) this spring in spite of a few trials along the way.

One such trial occurred while Alexander was serving as a tank driver for the United States Army for two years. One day, a test military exercise caused Alexander to endure a horrific accident. His tank went down a cliff at a very high speed, and Alexander hit his head and nearly broke his neck and back.

That accident caused several lasting injuries including severe migraines and constant neck and back pain. His head injury from the accident also led to advanced cognitive impairment. Due to this disability, Alexander has met a few learning obstacles on the road to his degree. He has trouble remembering and learning new things as well as concentrating. However, Alexander never let the disability stand in his way.

“I suffered several setbacks over the course of my time at JJC, but I am proud to say that I will be walking across the stage to graduate this spring. This was an accomplishment that seemed insurmountable a few years ago,” said Alexander.

In addition to hard work and dedication, Alexander also takes full advantage of the resources on JJC’s campus including Disability Services office and the Veterans Resource Center. With the latter, he is able to enjoy the company of his fellow student veterans while also having a place to experience quiet study hours.

Alexander serves as an inspiration to his JJC peers, especially those that he meets in the Disability Services office.

According to Mindy Diaz, the manager of Disability Services at JJC, “Lamas makes our job easy. He works hard, has a great attitude, always has a smiling face and expresses gratitude along the way. What he may not know is that we are grateful to have such a great role model supporting other students with disabilities on campus.”

While Alexander is an inspiration to many, he is also encouraged and inspired by everyone he has met while on his journey. According to him, he owes his success to so many who have helped him along the way.

Come May, he will be able to celebrate his success as he crosses the stage to receive his degree, which he already has plans for in his home. Alexander will hang the degree on his wall and “just admire that it’s there, and I did it!”

Image via Joliet Junior College