‘I caught a lucky break,’ 18-year-old graduate says

Ivy Tech Graduation
By Steve Hinnefeld 331-4374 | shinnefeld@heraldt.com
May 11, 2007

At an age when most people are finishing high school, Kevin Ruble is getting a college degree.

He will graduate with honors from Ivy Tech-Bloomington, receiving an associate of applied science degree in computer information technology.

Ruble, who turned 18 in March, said he’s glad Ivy Tech gave him a two-year head start on college.

“You don't have to worry about the high school drama every day, who's dating who, what groups don’t like what other groups,” he said. “With Ivy Tech, you go to class, go home and that's it. It suited me pretty well.”

Ruble said he got heavily involved with computer games and online forums at an early age, eventually administering a forum for role-playing games and later creating his own forum.

At Ivy Tech, his concentration was in Web management. He said he’s undecided whether to transfer to Indiana University and work toward a four-year degree or enter the workforce.

“What I want to do is run my own Web development business,” he said. “It’s pretty much problem-solving: The designers make it pretty and I make it work.”

Ruble didn’t plan to leave high school early. But at Bloomington High School South, a conflict with another student escalated until he produced an inappropriate drawing that caused him to be suspended.

“It’s not something I’m proud of,” he said.

When he returned to school, he said, he was placed on “zero tolerance” and got in trouble again, “I’m not sure how.”

A counselor at Bloomington’s Teen Learning Center suggested he take a practice test for the GED high-school equivalence certificated. He did well, passed the test on his first try and went ahead to enroll in Ivy Tech.