KILLEEN, Texas — Paul York never thought he would get a bachelors degree, let alone earn his PHD.
Now that he has, York said he looks back on his life fondly, knowing he overcame every hurdle, achieved his dream and still built the beautiful life he has today.
Today York can say he's successfully completed his PHD while working at Texas A&M University Central Texas, getting married to the love of his life and having a baby.
"I was the first one in my family to go to college," he said.
College was not a first choice for York. In his family he said people either went into the military or immediately started working after high school.
Pursuing a higher education ended up being the right decision. York recalls people in the LGBTQ community being kicked out of the military when he was growing up and that was unsettling for him knowing that he was and is gay.
"But luckily my parents were like 'no you are going to go to university,' and at that point I hadn't come out so I got to Indiana University and I found my people."
York found a way to get his bachelors degree from Indiana University and in doing so he found his people. He recalled people accepting him for who he was.
"Instead of introducing myself as, 'hi, I'm Paul and gay,' I got to say, 'Hi I'm Paul."
It was on and upward from there. York would earn a bachelors degree and one day find himself in Central Texas, where little did he know but the love of his life, PHD and baby would be.
York knew it wouldn't be an easy task, earning a PHD but he knew it was a marathon, not a sprint.
Keeping that in mind, York earned his degree in nine years while getting married and having a baby.
He knows his story and achievements are not over just yet. York hopes that even though he's reached his peak academically, he will continue to strive to create more experiences in his life and continue exploring.