My education journey: Mentor uses experience to inspire students

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Editor's note: This article is the fourth in a seven-part series highlighting the journey of Edwards Airmen in completing their education. Part five of the series is scheduled for publication Oct. 9. 

"I want to be an example of what not to be." 

These were the words of Master Sgt. Elisa Giese, 412th Test Wing Command Section superintendent, as she talked about her volunteer job as an education mentor to six enlisted Airmen. Her mentorship job is part of the Edwards' AFB Year of the Community College of the Air Force initiative that encourages its noncommissioned officers through senior NCOs to accomplish their CCAF degree requirements, such as English, math, speech, social science and humanities. 

However, Sergeant Giese seemed just in underscoring her educational achievement. As a requirement, a mentor must already have a CCAF degree. She has a CCAF in information management as well as an associate's degree in liberal arts, and she is four classes away from her bachelor's degree in management studies. 

But more than her educational credentials, the sergeant has the experience necessary to mentor her "students." 

Her education journey began 22 years ago after a year in the Air Force. 

"I asked myself, 'what have I done every day after 4 o'clock when I could have improved myself to anything worthy,'" she said. "So I said to myself I have got to start school." 

Sergeant Giese first completed her classes for her liberal arts degree, and ensured that she would also finish her CCAF degree by finishing her five core classes. But the road was marred by some challenges. As a Colombian immigrant, she had to work hard to learn the English language. 

"I didn't really want to go to college after I graduated from high school because I was having difficulty with English, it was a barrier," the sergeant said. "But I really wanted to go to school. I knew it was a challenge but that was not going to stop me from eventually getting to school." 

Permanent changes of stations also contributed to the difficulties. Also, online school was still a thing of the future. She had to work during days and then go to school at night. After seven years, she finished her CCAF degree. But as a mentor, she ideally wants her "students" to finish their degrees faster than she did. 

"Everybody has different challenges, everybody has factors in life that come at different times in their lives," Sergeant Giese said. "When you make the decision to make your CCAF the priority, that's when you start. But you have to be ready." 

The CCAF is just the beginning of an Airman's education journey. And this is where Sergeant Giese as a mentor comes in. She advises Airmen about what classes they need. Every quarter, she monitors the progress of the Airmen. 

"I tell them, go focus on your CCAF degree but you also need to focus on your associates and bachelors because you can take classes that can satisfy both," she said. "In going through your education journey, there is always a path. Eventually, you'll get that degree.