An Untraditional Path to Success

11/16/2016 

T.J. Keegan wears a suit and tie to school every day, but it is his age, 25, and not his appearance, that defines him as a non-traditional student at SUNY Cortland.

Nevertheless, Keegan’s career path to date has been untraditional.

When Keegan hit a detour in his goal to practice medicine, he redirected his focus to practicing law. On the way, while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in business economics at SUNY Cortland, he has mastered civic engagement.

This year, Keegan started the Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) student group and served as chapter president when the group received Student Government Association recognition in September. In October, he was promoted to serve as a state chair of the national YAL group. He will travel to other colleges in the northeast region to help establish new YAL chapters.

YAL sponsored several events on campus during the fall campaign season. Four forums were held in the weeks prior to election day — one each for Cortland’s 22nd Congressional District candidates and one for the two district attorney candidates.

“It took a lot more time than I expected when I realized that a phone or email request was not enough to get the candidates to campus,” Keegan said, “So I went to their public appearances, sometimes multiple times, to get them to commit.”

Then he coordinated room reservations, sound systems, publicity, visitor logistics and audience involvement. And he served as a moderator.

Also under Keegan’s direction, YAL co-sponsored three debate watch parties, a mock election, the election night results party, a documentary screening, and the Free Speech Ball rallies that invited the campus community to exercise its right to free speech by writing comments on an oversized beach ball. Keegan also is affiliated with the Political Science Association and NYPIRG, co-sponsors of many of the recent events. And he’s active with the Non-Traditional Student Organization (NTSO). He currently is helping guide the formation of three other campus clubs: College Republicans, English as a Second Language, and the Student Veterans.

“I’ve been able to work with some great people at SUNY Cortland,” said Keegan. “The events we brought to campus this semester would not have been possible without the help of Brian Ward, an economics lecturer and advisor, John Suarez, coordinator of the Institute for Civic Engagement's Office of Service- Learning, Kevin Pristash, director of Corey Union and campus activities, and Sky Baestlein, a representative of the New York Public Interest Research Group.

Nationally, non-trads are defined as students older than 23, students raising children, students working full time, students with prior military experience or students who have an interruption in their education. And they make up an increasingly large segment of campus populations. These students often take unique paths to realize their academic goals and achieve their degrees after overcoming obstacles that traditional, right-out-of-high-school students don’t usually face.

Keegan’s early aspirations to be an emergency room doctor had him commuting to nearby Tompkins-Cortland Community College (TC3) from his home in Dryden, N.Y., to earn a nursing degree. During his second year, he underwent a total of six surgeries for a retinal detachment and, in the end, was diagnosed as legally blind. Unable to pursue a medical career, Keegan considered studying political science. He had been attending village board meetings, worked as an election inspector, campaigned for the job of Village Trustee and volunteered on local government committees. He finished up at the community college and graduated with an associate’s degree in business administration. Then he applied to SUNY Cortland.

Nationally, non-trads make up an increasingly large segment of campus populations. These students often take unique paths to realize their academic goals and achieve their degrees after overcoming obstacles that traditional, right-out-of-high-school students don’t usually face.

Next semester, Keegan will graduate with a bachelor’s in business economics and a minor in political science. Next monbth, he will apply to law school. In the spring, while he awaits word on his application, Keegan is set to volunteer as a tax preparer with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Cortland County, a community service offered by SUNY Cortland’s economics majors to eligible residents.

“Now that the election season is ended, I am pitching the idea for a new public TV show,” Keegan said.

Uncharacteristic for a nursing-student-turned-lawyer, but completely on track for someone like Keegan.

Keegan is one of SUNY Cortland’s approximately 300 undergraduate students who is 24 or older, according to Cheryl Hines, coordinator of student outreach and non-traditional student support.

T.J. Keegan is another reason why SUNY Cortland recognizes and celebrates these dedicated students during annual Non-Trad Week, which started on Veterans Day, Nov. 11 — and runs through Friday, Nov. 18.

Non-Trad Week events include family activities, a specially tailored scholarship session, a free taco bar and a “Non-Trads Rock” T-shirt day, when anyone spotted wearing that signature shirt will win a prize. A full list of activities is available.

The College will be publicly recognizing notable non-trads throughout the week, Hines said. You can nominate someone for recognition.