He sits quietly in the back row as close to the door as he can. His short cropped dirty blond hair and rugged face gives him that "California boy look." But his blue eyes draw you in. You see a quite intelligence and a touch of humor, but also the haunted look of one whom as seen too much of war for one so young.
Carl Roberts is one of many American River College students that are seeking an education after serving in the military. Using the benefits provided by his military service he plans on becoming a doctor. "I want to be able to help people now not hurt them" he said.
Roberts the oldest of three children, grew up in Citrus Heights attended Citrus Heights Elementary as a child. Spent two of the "roughest years of my life" at Sylvan Junior High School then, continuing on to finish four years at Del Campo High School.
It was at Sylvan that he developed his love of basketball. "I played other sports, baseball and soccer but I was kind of uncoordinated" he says with a smile, "Long legs and arms that didn't always do what I wanted them to do."
Basketball seemed to bring it all together for Roberts. Those long arms and legs became an advantage for him. It also gave him an out let for all the frustration of school life at Sylvan Jr. High.
He went on to play basketball for Del Campo lettering in varsity his junior and senior years.
High school was an enjoyable time for Roberts being a student athlete seemed to make life a little easier. School work was not as easy as scoring a basket for Roberts. With lots of hard work the encouragement of his mother he managed to graduate with a B average. It was until after he joined the Marines that he learned that he was dyslexic.
As small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he talks about high school. "It sure would have been a lot easier if I knew how to read right." Roberts delayed going to college "because I needed to get a job so that I could go to school."
McDonalds was his first job out of high school. Taco Bell, Berger King followed, and then a job with Home Depot working in the garden department.
It was there that he met Marine Sergeant Ron Williams. Sergeant Williams was a Marine recruiter who was picking up some plants for the recruiting office. As Roberts helped Williams with his choice of plants for the office, Williams asked Roberts what he planned to do with his life. He went on to tell him about the benefits of being a Marine. One of those benefits was a college education. Williams left but the seed had been planted.
A couple of months later Roberts joined the Marine Corp, a decision that changed the direction of his life.
Roberts's blue eyes became very intent as he continued to talk about his first tour of duty in Iraq.
I served a year in that "sand box."
After his tour of duty he had the chance to be assigned as a recruiter in the Sacramento area. He jumped at the chance to be able to be stationed close to home.
After serving a year as a recruiter Roberts volunteered for a second tour of duty to Iraq. A haunted look shadowed his face as he spoke. It was just two month into his tour that he was wounded in a firefight. Several rounds in his right leg have left him with a slight limp. After six month of rehab he can play basketball again. Physically he has healed but Iraq still haunts him. "That's why I need to sit close to the door" he said "I have to have a way out."
School work is still hard for Roberts but being a Marine has helped him develop the drive he needs to complete his goal of becoming a doctor.
"I still love to play basketball and I am working on getting my jump shot back" he says with a smile and a sparkle in his eye.
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