In a sea of black caps and gown, differentiating one graduate from another is not an easy task, but Dale Cooper is anything but an ordinary graduate. After being hit head-on in an automobile accident, Cooper underwent many agonizing surgeries and was told he would never walk again. This heartbreaking news took away his career as a truck driver, but he fought against all odds and not only learned to walk again but also decided to enroll at Sampson Community College. He says it was the best decision he has ever made, and in 2007 he obtained his Associate in Arts Degree in Sociology. He says, however, he doesn’t plan to stop there. Cooper, who is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Arts and eventually his Masters in counseling, says he plans to become a school guidance counselor. “SCC has changed my life, and I’m so blessed to have been able to turn something negative into the most positive decision ever….going back to school.”