53-year-old Joseph Sonnier always planned to go to college after high school. However, due to family circumstances he couldn’t continue his education. After taking various jobs, he started work as a janitor at Port Barre Elementary School in Port Barre, LA.

One day, the school principal, Wesley Jones, had a chat with Sonnier. “I think you’d benefit the students better as an educator,” the principal told him.

Sonnier took his advice and went back to school while working full-time.

His strenuous efforts paid off. He graduated with an associate’s degree in 2006 from Louisiana State University Eunice, and in 2008, he received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Louisiana. Then he went for a master’s degree at the same university.

Years later, Sonnier is now principal at the same school he had worked as a janitor for 27 years.