By Calyn Hoerner

After driving commercial trucks for 19 years, Eric Lister became restless. He wanted a more rewarding career with opportunities. At the age of 38 he enrolled in the Lone Star College Law Enforcement Academy and served as a Harris County Constable Precinct 2 reserve officer for two years. He soon realized he wanted more.

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Eric Lister chased his dream of becoming a police officer. Photo credit: Andrea Vasquez, San Jacinto College marketing, public relations and government affairs department.

In 2014, Lister found what he was looking for. “San Jacinto College gave me the opportunity to work full time as a police officer,” he said. That same year he enrolled in classes at the College and began pursuing an associate degree in social and behavioral science.

Despite his accomplishments, Lister’s success has not come without struggles. “I have been chasing my degree for more than two decades with different situations causing me to stop and start,” he said. Lister got married and started a family early in his career. Later, the loss of his father in 2012 left a void in his life but ultimately became his motivation to return to the classroom. His father was always a big supporter of education and instilled in him the importance of a college education.

Determined to honor his father, Lister worked harder than ever to earn his degree and graduated in December 2015.

To read more about Eric, visit sanjac.edu/eric-lister.