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Tech grad student goes from Marine to mentor at Cookeville High School
Amy Rouchon
When veteran Amy Rouchon – a current Tennessee Tech University graduate student and
an assistant principal at Cookeville High School – first decided she wanted to enter
the military, she ran into a problem. She could never catch the Navy recruiter.
“He was never in his office when I came by,” Rouchon laughed. “I think it was the
fourth or fifth time that I came in that the Marine recruiter, whose office was right
next door, popped his head out. He said, ‘Hey, I’ve seen you here a few times. Can
I help you with something?’”
The recruiter brought her into his office, and after they talked for a while, he convinced
her that she would thrive in his branch of the military. It felt like it was meant
to be.
“I signed on the dotted line that day,” she said. “And really, I couldn't have picked
a better branch for my personality. It was probably the best seven years of my life
that I could have asked for to help me take that first step into adulthood.”
Rouchon joined the Marines right after high school in 1998 and served for seven years,
traveling overseas to be stationed in Japan and Africa. She reached the rank of sergeant/E-5.
“The military is an experience where you get to meet people from all over the place,”
she said. “Knowing that we were all going through the same pains and just growing
together, and also seeing how different we all are, from all different backgrounds
– that was very special and unique to me. I always encourage my students to go out
there and travel and experience everything that’s different from us.”
After leaving the military and returning to the States, Rouchon pursued a history
degree at the University of North Carolina, followed by a graduate degree from Drexel
University. When she moved to Tennessee with her husband and fellow Marine, James
– now a retired lieutenant colonel – she taught history at Upperman High School and
has since moved on to become an assistant principal at Cookeville High School. She
is also working toward completing her second graduate degree – this one in instructional
leadership at Tech.
“It’s been great because the same group of people have been in the program with me
this whole time, and they are also assistant principals now. We've been taking the
same courses together, and so anytime we have questions, we are just a phone call
away from each other.”
Rouchon’s time in the Marines instilled in her knowledge and skills that she now uses
in her everyday life, such as effectively communicating with people of different backgrounds
and cultures, and learning how to better herself.
“I appreciate feedback a lot because that's just something that you're always receiving
in the military, whether you like it or not,” she said. “That's really helped me grow
as a person and made me look from an outside perspective to see how effective I am.”
Rouchon encourages other veterans who might be considering the move to further their
own educations and even go into teaching themselves.
“If there's anybody who is thinking about it, Tech's a great place. The program is
pretty much laid out for you and you have a great support system. It's very fulfilling,”
she said. “You don't grow unless you continue to learn, and it affords you the opportunity
to give back in the education setting. It's invaluable because you have the background
and the experience to share with these students. A lot of them live vicariously through
you when you talk about your time and travels, and it’s exciting to share with them
that they could consider that as an option for themselves as well.”
