Millennial Dropped Out of High School at 15—Tears as He Shares Life Today

Newsweek

2 days ago

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A 38-year-old man has gone viral after sharing that he earned a doctorate nearly two decades after dropping out of high school—an academic comeback that is drawing praise among viewers.
Dr. Jared Becknell, from New Mexico, posted a graduation photo to Reddit on July 3 alongside a caption that read: "High school dropout to Doctor … I dropped out of high school my sophomore year of high school, 15 years later and three colleges degrees, I get to wear my wizard robes." The post has received more than 4,500 upvotes, with commenters applauding Becknell's perseverance.
"I felt like people might want to hear my story and hear about how, even though you weren't supposed to make it, you did," Becknell told Newsweek. "Statistically, high school dropouts turned doctors don't really exist.
"We are truly a rarity and a skittle among the kale," he added.
Becknell, who moved to Colorado for his undergraduate studies in 2011, earned his Ph.D. while serving as the full-time caregiver for his mother, who has dementia.
"I actually wrote my dissertation while being her primary caregiver," he said.
Becknell now teaches master's-level counseling students on their way to becoming mental-health practitioners.
Becknell said his profound academic comeback followed a tumultuous adolescence marked by bullying and instability.
"I was bullied heavily in middle school and was an only child that wasn't supported very well," he said. "When I reached high school, I was already outside the norm of a traditional student.
"My attendance record was in the single digits and mix that with drugs, alcohol and a city that is known for Breaking Bad—just wasn't going to end well."
Dr. Jared Becknell poses outdoors in his graduation attire after earning a Ph.D.
Dr. Jared Becknell poses outdoors in his graduation attire after earning a Ph.D.
Dr. Jared Becknell
After dropping out at age 15, Becknell cycled through a series of jobs, including dishwasher, bouncer, bartender, and motorcycle salesperson. It was not until his mid-20s that he decided to try again.
"I wanted to go back to school and make something of myself," Becknell said.
He moved states to begin his undergraduate degree and did not take a break until finishing his Ph.D., save for a year spent working as a clinician in Alaska during the pandemic.
Becknell's Reddit post resonated deeply with many readers, not just for the academic milestone, but for the life experiences that shaped it.
"I got to travel and see the world," Becknell said. "I got to appreciate my younger years and really take my education seriously."
The viral post included an image of Becknell in graduation attire standing against the striking backdrop of a New Mexico sunset. He said the photo was meant to honor the state he grew up in, despite its painful memories.
"I was born and raised here and will never regret my journey out of the place that made me feel so small," Becknell said.
Looking back, he added that pursuing his education later in life brought unexpected advantages, despite the common narrative that returning to education and being a mature student is an entirely challenging experience.
"It is so cliché and trope, but age is just a number," Becknell said. "I would argue my experience was better because I was older and was able to connect more to faculty."
Though he never initially intended to pursue a doctorate, Becknell said he followed his curiosity—and his desire to do more with the knowledge he had gained.
"I felt like my heart just wasn't full enough," he said.