Yavapai College Custodian Christopher Robles triumphs over technology to be unstoppable; earns first degree at 57

Photo: Yavapai College Custodian and spring 2024 graduate Christopher Robles on stage with YC President Dr. Lisa Rhine at the May 5 Commencement

When you’ve labored all your life — as a railroad worker, landscaper, grocery associate, movie theater manager and custodian — your body eventually begins to protest. As the physical toll progresses, you worry about the future and your ability to continue doing physical work.

Christopher Robles lives and breathes those worries, but with much less intensity since earning an associate of science degree at Yavapai College this spring.

The 57-year-old Christopher, a beloved Yavapai College custodian and former dining hall associate, is stepping a little lighter these days, despite a nagging leg injury, and beaming with pride at an accomplishment that, until three years ago, never invaded his wildest dreams.

“All of a sudden, I was a student who also happened to work at the college, and school just became more of a goal. That just blew my mind,” Christopher said, recounting his three-year degree journey.

But then Christopher had never worked anywhere that offered free college tuition to its employees. So when his former boss at YC encouraged him to attain an associate degree, Christopher had no rebuttal. “You don’t tell your boss no,” he recalled thinking at the time.

Like many adult students, Christopher struggled initially to adapt to technology he had never used, namely a computer and the applications needed to absorb, complete and submit his coursework. But as an employee who cleaned or refurbished the classrooms, offices, labs and other spaces faculty and students frequent, Christopher knew where to turn for help, and he wasn’t shy about it.

“I didn’t stop asking until someone said, ‘alright, this is how you do it.’ People gave me the help I needed, and they didn’t make me feel stupid,” Christopher said, referring to his YC support group of instructors, advisors and tutors.  He singled out Business Professors Lauri Dreher and Denise Woolsey and Teaching and E-Learning Specialist Barrett Johnson — the professors for being generous with their time and Barrett for literally preventing him from dropping out.

“Those are big things, they are, knowing there are people who care and who can help,” Christopher said.

Everything else required for his degree was all on Christopher, including tackling his online courses and studying into the early morning hours after his YC workday ended at 10 p.m. “The term ‘all-nighter’ had a whole new meaning for me,” he joked.

Often, the self-described “concert junkie” gave up family and friends time to study on weekends as well, something his wife and sons weren’t necessarily happy about, but understood and supported. “On graduation day, everybody in my family was happy. I wish I had done this for them a long time ago,” he said.

Christopher’s discipline earned him stellar grades at YC and induction into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. It also enabled him to put aside for a while his worries about the long-term effects of his leg injury.  “If I had not had the homework, I think I would have sat home and felt sorry for myself.”

A Prescott native, Christopher signed on with a railroad after finishing high school in California. When the railyard closed 11 years later, rather than transfer with the company to the Midwest, he returned to the Prescott area to be near family. “I had to come back,” he said.

After a long and steady stint of hard work in all corners of Yavapai County, Christopher gladly landed at YC, where he appreciates both the culture and the opportunity to attend college for free.  Before he became a student himself, Christopher said he was inspired by the courage and the adventurous spirit of the YC students of all ages and backgrounds he met who “were trying to better their lives.”

He said he knew in his heart that each of those students were doing the right thing. “When they leave here, they actually have a future to look forward to,” he said.

As for Christopher’s future? He intends this summer to launch into the business bachelor’s degree program at YC. This time, it’s not his boss suggesting he do it. Christopher wants the next degree for himself — perhaps to land a better, less physical job someday — but also for the experience and knowledge.

“College opens your brain. You can see things, you can feel things that you didn’t see and feel before. And you find out that life is so much bigger than what you focused on at one time,” he said.