Looking Back: A First Year Graduate Reflects On ECOT

James Gerity, a member of ECOT's Class of 2001, has a place in ECOT history as one of the school's first graduates.

He was one of the young people profiled in The Kids That ECOT Taught, which was written by ECOT Founder Bill Lager. Gerity was also one of the honored guests who attended the second commencement exercises in 2002.

Since then, Gerity has built a military career in the Navy and enrolled in college.

He credits ECOT with giving him a good foundation to start his adult life.

"The education is first rate. As a student, it was tough to realize that I needed to depend on myself to understand the material that was being taught. I almost became a different person," Gerity said.

"I was much more independent, and going through boot camp, I could make the decisions that someone in a conventional school hasn't had the experience to make. I'm not saying that conventional schooling doesn't teach you how to make decisions for yourself. But, ECOT provided me the opportunity to make my own schedule, and to think a lot more independently."

Gerity has been in the Navy for nearly nine years. He has served in Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and before that assignment, he was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

At the same time, Gerity has been attending American Military University where he majors in criminal justice with a concentration in Forensics. All of his classes are online.

After he earns a bachelor's degree, Gerity plans to pursue a master's degree in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology.

He would also like to stay in the Navy as long as possible.

Looking back on his decision to enroll in ECOT, Gerity said, "I wasn't really part of the 'in' crowd, and high school, many times, wasn't presenting a challenge for me. I was concerned with completing high school as fast as possible, and continuing on to my plans for college, and succeeding in the goals that I have made for myself."