Learning about his preschool granddaughter’s struggles with math at school, the devoted grandpa, Kenny Decosta makes his promise that he’ll help her solve her math, and motivates his little girl to bring all of her problems to him.

Initially confident, Decosta had not expected to find himself having a difficult time understanding the way of today’s math representation. Though it took all night, the homework got done, but with one resolution in mind: it was time to go back to school.

Health issues presented obstacles for Decosta over the years; his heart wasn’t pumping as it should, which led him to have heart surgery several times. Being out of work, and recovering from his latest surgery in 2012, he found himself frustrated. Not being able to be a math tutor for his granddaughter in combination with the doctors’ orders of keeping both his mind and body active, prompted Decosta’s return to Skyline after 17 years.

“I wasn’t doing it for any real reason other than to help my granddaughter,” Decosta said. “And now I’m trying it to show my grandchildren that (if) grandpa can do it, you guys can do it.”

Becoming the breadwinner in his late teens pushed Decosta to take on responsibilities that typically come with middle age. His married life was followed by working several jobs including that of an industry worker at shipyard, and with a day decking company which serviced navy ships for seven years.

When the navy started downsizing, he came to Skyline in 1996 to get a certificate in telecommunication. However, getting hired by a company outside of the college made him unable to finish his certification. Responsibilities on his shoulder, Decosta choose a labor job with Black Box Company, where he worked 15 years until he got laid off in 2011 due to the downsizing.

Now all situations favor him to continue with the goal of higher education he put on hold. As he enters this new chapter in his life, he chooses to come back to the same school he did when the goal was first set, this time for a degree. The difference from then and now is that his seven grandchildren are watching him study.

“I try to explain to my children (and) my grandchildren, get your education now,” Decosta said. “Get it taken care of now because it’s easier.”

His hope is that perseverance, self-motivation, and an enthusiastic mindset will stand as a good example that his grandchildren might follow. Decosta has brought his grandchildren on occasion to show them how he is handling the academic challenges in a school where students are less than half of his age.

“He knows how to use resources, he’s motivated, mature and wants to learn,” said Manny Peix, Decostas math tutor from the Learning Center. “Basically, he’s self-motivated, resourceful and everyone in here should be like him.”

Ryan Samn, an English tutor who helps Decosta with structuring his papers, admires the way Decosta shares in his essays his personal knowledge and experiences which Samn thinks is “very unique and interesting.”

“He’s been through a lot of things that other people haven’t been through and to see him come back to school is, I think, it’s very inspiring.” Samn said.

Despite having some health issue in his life since he has worked physical labor jobs for 36 years, one thing for Decosta remains the same: his passion for motorcycles. Still riding, he is not one to sit still after getting retired.

“If you want to succeed in what you try to do, as long as you keep trying to do the best, you’ll never be dissatisfied with yourself, you never will,” Decosta said.