18-year-old Jonathan Cochran stops for a quick picture in front of Building A on the Whitfield Murray Campus of Georgia Northwestern Technical College. Mr. Cochran graduated from Southeast Whitfield High School this past spring. He is scheduled to earn his associate degree in criminal justice next month.
For someone who doesn’t have much time for himself, 18-year-old Jonathan Cochran is definitely ahead of schedule for your average teenager.
In an age which many are experiencing their adult life for the first time, perhaps taking a first job or signing up for a few college courses, Cochran is just over a month away from earning his Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia Northwestern Technical College.
Of course, that’s a fine accomplishment for a young adult. However, coupled with the fact he just graduated from high school six months ago, it’s downright incredible.
Born on Valentine’s Day in 1997, this Northwest Georgia native first fell in love with the idea of being a physical therapist. “I heard it was a career choice that would pay well,” said Mr. Cochran. “However, as I got older, I learned quickly it’s not always about the money. I want a career that I will love and have a true passion for.”
So, to get a jump start on life, Mr. Cochran enrolled in dual enrollment courses at Southeast Whitfield High School during his junior and senior years. He would earn credit towards his high school diploma and his Associate Degree from Georgia Northwestern, simultaneously. “I’ve even completed my internship already through the Dalton State (GA) Public Safety Office,” said Mr. Cochran.
The son of a mechanic and a property manager in Northwest Georgia, Mr. Cochran graduated from the ranks of the Raiders at Southeast Whitfield on May 26. Now a Bobcat, he’ll graduate from Georgia Northwestern Technical College on Dec. 10.
“I wanted to be in law enforcement for a very long time,” said Mr. Cochran. In the heart of high school football country, he was asked about his extracurricular activities as he made his decision to do dual-enrollment with Georgia Northwestern. “I’ve done nearly 100 hours of ride-along shifts with local law enforcement agencies, if that counts as extracurricular.” Mr. Cochran also served as a member of C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team) Academy Team 10.
Now an employee at Dollar General in Dalton, Ga. and a firefighter explorer with the Dalton Fire Department, this future criminal justice pro has big plans. “I intend to work in cyber security for a federal law enforcement agency,” said Mr. Cochran. Following his second walk across a graduation stage in six months, he plans on attending Kennesaw State University or Dalton State University for a Bachelor’s Degree in computer science.
Mr. Cochran’s parents, David and Meredith, and three brothers, Caleb, Nick, and Chris, all currently live in Dalton, Ga.