THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509220187
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close-Up
SOURCE: Rebecca A. Myers
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
In high school, Rodney Tucker was the type of student who ``did just enough to get by.''
Then something happened that forced Tucker to take life a little more seriously.
His son was born.
The year was 1988 and Tucker was 17. He finished high school in his hometown of Petersburg, started junior college, but soon was slapped with another dose of reality.
``After my son was born, I realized I needed an income, not schooling, so I signed up and went in the Navy in the hopes that I'd have a stable income for the first few years while he was growing up,'' said Tucker, whose son is now 7.
In the Navy Tucker served as a gunner's mate, but was assigned to shore duty for most of his naval career. In the last two years of his four-year hitch, Tucker trained as a middleweight boxer. He fought in and won 13 three-round fights and scored two knockouts.
When Tucker got out of the Navy in 1992, ``there was a big need to hit the street running and to start focusing,'' he said.
Now 24, Tucker not only has four years of military service behind him, but is just a year shy from an associate's degree in education from Tidewater Community College.
Recently, Tucker was selected the school's student ambassador - a kind of public relations person for the junior college. As compensation, his tuition for the current school year will be paid.
``It's basically just like a scholarship,'' said Tucker. ``The student ambassador promotes the campus, deals with problems or concerns internally and externally, and works to increase enrollment.''
Though Tucker may not have taken his education very seriously in high school, it is extremely important to him now, he said.
``I can't provide a better lifestyle for my son if I'm not in school getting an education,'' said Tucker, who plans to transfer to Old Dominion University next fall to major in human services counseling.
Tucker's ultimate goal is to become a counselor for the Department of Corrections. Meanwhile, he holds two jobs at TCC, working 60 hours a week.
From noon to 4 p.m. weekdays, Tucker serves as an assistant in the school's gymnasium in a work-study job. Then he changes hats from 4 p.m. to midnight to become a TCC security guard.
Sometime between 8 a.m. and noon, Tucker manages to get in 13 credit hours of classes, while also serving as president of the Minority Affairs Club, senator in the Student Government Association and head coach of the school's basketball team.
``A lot of times, I find myself at 12:30 in the morning doing homework, maybe going to bed like at 4 a.m. and having to get up at 7 a.m. to go to a class at 8,'' he said with a chuckle.
``It's just become a habit,'' he said. ``It's hard a lot of times when it comes to turning in assignments, but you really can't expect the instructor to sympathize. You have to do it. You just find ways to make time.''
Luckily for Tucker, there are two days out of the week that he can call his own - even if they are reserved for someone special.
``I pick my son up on Saturday evenings and that will just be our time,'' he said. ``Any extra time that I might have, I will always spend that with my son.''
Name: Rodney N. Tucker
Nickname: Tuck
Neighborhood: Churchland
Number of years in Portsmouth: Four
Birthplace: Petersburg
Birthdate: Nov. 20, 1970
Occupation: Security guard, gym assistant and basketball coach at Tidewater Community College
What job other than your own would you like? Counselor
Marital status: Single
Children: One son, Taylor, 7
Fondest childhood memory: Growing up with my three brothers
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? I'd buy my mother anything she wanted.
Biggest accomplishment: Maintaining a grade point average higher than 3.5 since I've been in school.
Most embarrassing moment: I was on my way to court to fight a speeding ticket, I was running late and on the way to court, I got pulled again for speeding.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Nothing
Perfect way to spend the day: Relaxing, lying down, taking it easy
I can't resist: Boxing matches on TV
If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?
To continue to build
To reach out to those neighborhoods in Portsmouth where the graduation rates are lower
To get involved in recreational programs in the summer to keep kids busy
Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about living in Portsmouth? It's centrally located. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
by CNB