People of Georgian: Instructor finds support – and second career – as mature student

People of Georgian: Meet Marco D’Intino

I was 43 when I went back to college.

I was tired of the roller-coaster ride of being a machinist. Every five years there seemed to be a massive layoff and then we’d be rehired.

I toured Georgian’s Owen Sound Campus, and I saw how machining and the Power Engineering Technology program went well together.

So, after speaking to my wife, Jaime, quite a bit, knowing she was going to be the sole income provider while I was in school, I bit the bullet and went back to college.

As a 43 year old, you’re pretty much the oldest one in class. All my classmates knew my wife worked there in Academic and Career Preparation, too.

They would go talk to her and tell her, “Marco’s like our father figure now.”

Anytime they had a problem in class or if they needed to talk about personal issues, they would come to me and we’d go to the café or library and talk.

‘Georgian College is amazing for help’

The whole experience was a lot different from when I was in school. It had been 20-something years since I was in high school.

I was never good at mathematics. It was a bit tough but I had a lot of help.

I always say to everybody Georgian College is amazing for help.

The Owen Sound Campus is small, so you’re not a number. They all know you by name, and everybody gets the help they need.

Just before graduation, I was approached about sticking around to teach the machining course part time for the college. I took the job, and I enjoy it thoroughly.

Machining is a part of me and will always be a part of me. I’ve been doing it since I was 20 years old.

I get to teach the students about it, and now I’m also teaching other courses that are involved with power engineering. I’m very happy.

What I would say to anyone going back to college later in life is don’t be afraid to take that first step.

You’re going to be nervous, you’re going to be scared, you don’t know what to expect, but in the end all you’ve got to do is bite the bullet.

The first step is always the hardest one. Once you’re in college, all the help is there. There is no way you cannot succeed.  

Marco D’Intino, alumnus of Georgian’s Power Engineering Technology program (Class of 2018), and now a part-time Academic Technologist in the same program at the college’s Owen Sound Campus.

Marco was also an ambassador in Georgian’s MORE campaign, sharing his experience of returning to college as a mature student.

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