Going back: moving forward 3: Self Taught ‘techie’ re-engineers himself

Editor’s note: The Aztec Press presents its award-winning series from Fall 2009. This series, “Going back: moving forward,” tells the stories of nontraditional students who have returned to school—some after a few years, others after many. “Going back: moving forward” won first place for Feature Writing in the Society of Professional Journalists regional 2-year/community college category. It reached the top three nationally, to become a nationalist finalist.

Story by Liza Porter
Photo courtesy of Barney Hilton Murray

Barney Hilton Murray is a man of many talents. He is a photographer, videographer and writer, and a self-described, self-taught “techie.” He is also a furniture maker. Most importantly to him, he is a family man.

Murray has an open, inquisitive face that reflects his curious mind and his compassion for others.
He’s a dignified middle-aged man who looks like he works in the Silicon Valley, which in fact he did at one time.

He enrolled in classes at Pima Community College last spring after working for IBM in California as a Web administrator and designer for more than 20 years. He also has been a software engineering and test engineering consultant.

When the economy tanked, he was laid off from two jobs in 18 months.

What’s the main reason he went back to school? “I took a look at what my career has been and how things have changed,” he says.

Murray has become quite accomplished at photography and graphic arts, but has no proof of it. There are certain educational requirements he needs to become employed again.

“It was obvious that I’d have to reengineer myself for the future,” Murray says. “The bottom line is if I have to work for somebody else, there are certain minimum credentials that I feel I would have to have.”

He took journalism and digital art classes because he wants to become “a photographer that writes.”

“I’m in a constant learning mode,” Murray says. A lot of his education takes place in the leisure of his living room, through reading dozens of magazines—on photography, video and business.

Besides traditional classes, Murray has also taken on-line computer software classes through the University of Arizona. He likes both.

When asked if he felt out of place at PCC as a nontraditional student, Murray laughs and says, “I always have found myself for one reason or another in the minority group, going through college.”

There weren’t many blacks in technical programs when Murray first went to college 30 years ago. Now he’s often the oldest person in the class.

“I don’t think it’s a problem for me,” he says. He enjoys the younger students and “the fact that they are so willing to openly challenge the norm.”

He likes the dialogue that happens in class, depending on how students present their opinions and whether they show respect for others.

“Some of them can’t articulate themselves in a diplomatic manner, let me put it that way,” he says with a chuckle.

Murray’s greatest influence is the silent power of his father.

“He was one of those men that showed you priorities but never told you,” he says.

Through this silent presence, his father taught Murray and his siblings that family comes first. Murray has two daughters and four grandchildren.

The last several years have been hard on Murray and his family. In addition to the job layoffs, his wife was treated for a rare form of cancer.

“Through the grace of God, I kept my sanity,” Murray says. “We were able to stay afloat.” His wife is now cancer free.

He thinks he will move away from a job in corporate America. “I’d like to be able to take everything I’ve learned, from the journalism to my photography skills, graphics, whatever I’m learning, to better the lives of people,” he says.

Murray currently writes articles for a San Diego magazine called Chocolate Voice, Good News Tucson and examiner.com.

When asked what he does in his “spare” time, Murray says, “I’m so right now in a transformation space, I don’t feel like I’m entitled to … reward myself yet.”

He emphasizes the word yet.

Originally published October 15, 2009
1: Single parent makes college a priority
2: Work at Orphanage Provides Inspiration
4: Life ‘controlled chaos’ for military student
5: Retiree takes classes just for pleasure
6: Renaissance woman enjoys life-long learning
7: Journalist switching careers to teaching