Lifting students to new heights

Former Navy officer and powerlifter is helping teens build their IT muscles

- CALVIN HARPER

Individuals are the sum of their experiences. Each event, whether good or bad, contributes to who we become. Fortunately, while experiences shape our character and influence our outlook on life, they do not determine destiny; we are always free to choose how we respond to situations and conditions.

While navigating life’s challenges is seldom easy, oftentimes it’s our interactions with others that make the difference between accepting our lot or deciding to leave familiar surroundings and strive to be more. Sometimes the right person at the right time can help set us on a path to unimagined success and joy. Such is the journey of Jay Mathis, the CTE-Cyber security teacher at Blacksburg High School in Blacksburg, Va.

Mathis was born and raised in Morristown, Tenn.— childhood haunt of famed frontiersman Davy Crockett. Sleepy little municipalities rarely offer abundant opportunities for young men fresh out of high school and Morristown had no surprises for Mathis.

After taking stock of the situation, Mathis realized that his choices were limited. “I was never a good student, and I knew that college, for me, was not an option,” he said.

Needing a job and yet not wanting to stay in Morristown, Mathis figured the Navy was at least a place to start. “I didn’t sign up out of love of country, that came later,” he admits, “all I knew was that I wanted to somehow better myself.”

Join the Navy and learn IT

In the Navy, Mathis’ first occupation choice was law enforcement. Unfortunately, the Navy was not accepting MPs at the time of his enlistment, so Mathis settled on becoming a radioman. “It was what would fulfill my obligation and get me out the quickest,” he said.