In 2023, Richard Ross James, at 51 years old, decided he would go back to school and work toward completing his undergrad degree. After wrapping up his Associates Degree at Bellevue College in 2023, he was accepted into the Integrated Social Sciences program at the University of Washington in winter, 2024. As a firm believer in education being the best provision for old age, he is realizing his dream of acquiring higher education to set an example for his teenage daughters, to better improve his career prospects and to become a more informed and well-rounded citizen as he approaches his retirement years.
After over 30 years of working in Information Technology, and achieving his dream of working in the space industry, Richard realized, late in life, the best thing he could do for himself as he prepares for the last leg of his career journey, was to acquire more education. While acquiring more education had direct benefits for his IT career trajectory, it was clear the process of acquiring education would set an example for Richard's teenage daughters and, even more importantly, ensure he was a more informed, well-rounded and critically thinking community member. Upon completing his Associates Degree, he found himself at an impasse with where to go next. After much research, and encouraged by the feedback from other Integrated Social Sciences alumni and staff members, Richard realized the Integrated Social Sciences Program at the University of Washington was exactly the education he needed, and had the potential of being a wonderful journey in the process.
This is my LinkedIn Profile, which serves as my online resume.