Brian McKenzie leads his family by example

In 1986 Brian moved from the San Luis Valley to Oakdale, Louisiana where he met and married Muriel. After a series of moves to and from the valley and after the birth of their fourth child, he moved his family back to the valley in 2003 in search of a better life.
Initially the couple worked a number of odd jobs while living in his mother’s trailer. Finding it “hard to get work here” and realizing he would need to further his education to find suitable employment, Brian returned to school. After seven long months, he proudly graduated with his GED from TSJC.
Encouraged by the staff and especially by the Learning Resource Center director, Anna Mae Rael-Lindsay, Brian decided to give college a try. He is now in his fourth semester at Trinidad State Junior College and working toward a Business degree.
Impressed with her husband’s progress, Muriel, who had previously earned her GED and CNA certificates at TSJC, followed suit. She wanted more. She was soon inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society for Community Colleges, and is now in her third semester. “Mom wants straight A’s”, Kristen told me as she shook her head from side to side while smiling at her mom.
This family has reason to be proud.
Encouraged by his parents’ example, Byran, the oldest, earned his GED at TSJC last summer. He is now enrolled in the popular Aquaculture program there and after graduation plans to return to Louisiana and seek employment with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries which is comparable to the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the biggest employer of TSJC’s Aquaculture Program..
Robert, the youngest, wants to go with Byran, but mom and dad laid down the law. “If you want to go with Byran, you will have to go back to school and earn your GED.” So, Robert is currently working toward his GED at TSJC.
That makes four McKenzies from the same family simultaneously schooling at Trinidad State Junior College Valley Campus. Kristen, who also earned her GED at TSJC, would be studying cosmetology this semester except she returned home from her service in the army two weeks too late to begin. She plans to begin in the fall. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see fourteen-year-old Quinten enroll at TSJC. It seems to have become a family affair.
“The teachers are helpful here. They really want to help you out,” the McKenzies agreed. They are well on their way to a better life, and it all began with dad.