VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) — This weekend, more than a thousand students graduated from Valdosta State University.
"Gosh, the last class I took before I started attending here was 16 years ago, 18 years ago now," said Chase Capehart, US Airforce.
Chase Capehart joined more than a thousand others in crossing the stage at Valdosta State University Saturday evening.
"For the last two years, it was thick and thin, deployments, TDY's no matter what we had. We just pushed through it, got it done," said Capehart.
If going to school during military deployment wasn't enough on his plate, he also faced the challenges of fatherhood.
"Usually being a student comes after everything else is done. When the kids are put to bed, when the house is clean and everything for work is ready for the next day. That's when I get to put forth the effort for my education. But when you're deployed, you work 12-14 hours and then your education comes after that," said Capehart.
Capehart's work ethic is in his genes, though. Just ask his dad, Ron.
"I raised them by myself. He's been taught everything that I was taught by my dad. He's continued everything that I taught him," said Ron Capehart, Father.
So what did Ron Capehart teach his son?
"Aim high. There's no limit to what you can put your mind to. My father instilled that in me at a very young age. If you can put your mind to it, you can get it. Everything is within reach," Ron Capehart, Father.
Now Capehart will be reaching new heights this summer for another deployment with the Air Force.
Capehart says he was able to finish 3 years worth of classes in 2 years, all while deployed in the US Air Force.
