“Not long ago, I stood in front of the mosaic mural at OCCC, the same one my mom helped lay tiles for in the ’90s,” Ian McDermid said. “She was recovering from a liver transplant at the time and trying to rebuild her life. Standing there years later, I realized I was doing the same thing in my own way. She found a path here, and so did I.”

For McDermid, the mural was more than a fond memory — it was a reminder of what was at stake. He didn’t return to college just to finish what he started. He came back to fulfill his purpose.

Raised by a single mother in a tough neighborhood, McDermid grew up navigating obstacles most kids never face. When he first enrolled at Oklahoma City Community College, he kept his head down, didn’t ask questions and didn’t get involved. He felt like he didn’t belong, and he left before finishing.

Years later, with a family, a business and a clearer sense of purpose, he returned to college to study psychology — and to prove it’s never too late to reach higher.

“I’ve always been curious about what drives people. Why do we do what we do, how do we recover, how do we grow?,” he said. “Psychology just made sense.”

This time around, McDermid approached school differently. He used campus resources, attended events and became involved wherever he could. He also joined Psi Beta, a national psychology honor society, and found something he didn’t have the first time he tried college — a sense of community.

“It’s easy to feel isolated, but getting involved showed me I’m not alone,” he said. “There’s a real sense of community here, and that kept me motivated.”

McDermid earned his associate degree in psychology at OCCC last fall and now is continuing his education at a four-year institution.

“I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it,” McDermid said. “Taking 18 course hours in one semester was intense, but I treated school like my job and gave it everything I had.”

McDermid credits OCCC’s faculty with helping him find direction. “The professors bring real-world experience into the classroom, and that makes the material more meaningful,” he said.

Dr. Greg Parks, OCCC professor of psychology and a clinical psychologist, said McDermid’s contributions stood out.

“Mr. McDermid was able to draw from a wealth of lived experience,” Parks said. “He often asked thoughtful questions and offered practical examples that helped his classmates connect course concepts to real life.”

Jennifer Cuneo, professor of psychology at OCCC, said McDermid’s motivation and service-driven mindset stood out across campus.

“His passion for helping others created a positive ripple effect,” Cuneo said. “He inspired classmates and made meaningful contributions in and out of the classroom.”

OCCC’s psychology program has earned national recognition and was named one of the top 10 online associate degrees in psychology by Forbes Advisor in 2024.

McDermid is studying psychology at the University of Central Oklahoma, preparing for a Ph.D. in social and personality psychology. He wants to pursue a career in higher education as a professor, researching intrinsic motivation that might help others navigate similar obstacles he once faced.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself through this process,” he said. “If I can help someone else feel seen or supported, that’s success to me.”

Are you thinking about returning to college?

Learn more about OCCC’s Reach Higher program for students ready to finish what they started.