UA_Engineer_25_FINAL_spreads (1) - Flipbook - Page 15
The Power of
Perseverance
By Brinkley Wood
I
n a world that celebrates instant success,
Christian Jones is a reminder that the winding
road is often the most rewarding.
A native of Aliceville, Alabama, Jones’
journey to The University of Alabama hasn’t
followed the traditional script. He didn’t move into
a dorm straight out of high school or graduate in
four years. Instead, he’s been building something
deeper: a life grounded in hard work, resilience
and faith in the future.
After graduating from Pickens County High
School in 2015, Jones began his educational journey
at Bevill State Community College, where he earned
an associate degree in computer science.
According to Jones, computer science was the
obvious choice. “I was always the kid everyone asked
to 昀椀x their computer,” he said. “If I didn’t know how
to solve a problem, I’d 昀椀nd a way.”
Jones knew he wanted to continue his education,
and The University of Alabama was just the place. He
also knew he would have to help fund his education.
“I got a job at Walmart to help my mom pay
for school after my dad passed,” he explained.
“It became a choice between keeping a roof over
my head or going to class full time, and survival
had to come 昀椀rst.”
He began taking just one or two classes at a time,
carefully balancing his job and his education. Now a
junior at UA, Jones is determined to 昀椀nish what he
started, no matter what or how long it takes.
In the past year, he launched not one but two
business ventures to support his education.
Jones and his brother, Reggie, saw the value
in building a business that could generate passive
income. “We always talked about how to make
money in our sleep,” he said. Using their savings,
they purchased a semi-truck that now hauls loads
across the region, earning a steady income with
minimal hands-on involvement.
“I have truckers in my family who helped me
connect with people in the industry,” Jones said.
“We drafted a contract, found a driver and now
the truck is working for me.”
Jones’ second venture was more fortuitous.
With a passion for cooking and experimenting in
the kitchen, he would post photos of his culinary
creations on social media. These pictures earned him
his 昀椀rst catering job for a group of nurses at UAB,
and rave reviews for a Valentine’s Day salmon dish
earned him steady work.
“The business has taken off faster than I
expected,” he said, crediting his girlfriend for helping
him manage side dishes and support the operation.
Jones says beef ribs are his specialty. “They take
time, but it’s worth it,” he said. “Each time I taste
what I’ve made, I think, ‘Wow, I didn’t know I could
do that.’”
But Jones’ success isn’t limited to the roads or the
kitchen. He was recently accepted into Springboard,
a selective software engineering bootcamp. Through
a partnership with Walmart, he’ll complete the
program at no cost, learning everything from
HTML to Python and Redux. The training through
Springboard will supplement his UA education with
skills that will help him land a job or internship in
the tech industry.
“It won’t replace my degree; it just adds more
tools to my belt,” he said. “I’m still committed to
graduating from UA.”
In addition to learning about computer science,
Jones’ journey has resulted in powerful life lessons.
“I’m much stronger than I thought I was,” Jones
said. “I never thought I’d still be working at Walmart
eight years later, but it put a roof over my head when
I needed it, and I’m still pushing forward.”
Occasionally, Jones admits to feeling left behind.
Yet his faith in a future not centered around a
paycheck keeps him moving forward.
“If I hit a problem in a program, I break it down,
test it again and 昀椀x it. Same with food. If something
doesn’t work, I make it better next time. You don’t
stop trying.”
To others who feel behind in life, he offers this:
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint. It may take four
years, or it may take ten, but the goal is to 昀椀nish.
Do it for yourself, and don’t quit.”
Jones is still writing his story, one line of code,
one mile of highway and one rack of ribs at a
time. And if there’s one thing he wants his future
employers and mentors to know, it’s this: “I don’t
quit. I’m always willing to learn, and I’m always
ready to step up.
FALL 2025 | CAPSTONE ENGINEER | 15
