TORRINGTON – For as long as we live, there is always going to be talk or even concern about younger generations.

The older we get, the more we tend to look at youngsters behind us as if they are not capable of measuring up to standards we have self-righteously set for them.

We tend to unfairly take a look at our youth and pass judgment, jump to conclusions, or make unfair assumptions based on what we perceive they may or may not be capable of.

It’s a tale as old as time and will probably continue for many years to come. Maybe it’s just a natural way of how society chooses to look at things, and sometimes our own experiences shape and mold those very views. 

Sometimes a special leap of faith reveals itself and has the true power to show an older generation how truly mistaken they might be. 

Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) CDL student, Sam Petsch, has proven himself to be a very unique and noticeable pupil at Torrington’s local college. When first meeting the young trucker in training, one would naturally go ahead and start trying to figure him out.

Understandably enough, older folks would agree respect is earned, not given.

Right from the get-go one would meet a highly respectful young man with a firm grip on his handshake, and solid eye contact on the person he is attempting to meet.

“Yes sir,” and “No sir,” seem to be the natural response to his elders, no doubt taught by caring parents and strong role models.

Under the training of college CDL Director, Ed Kimes, one could see while watching the two interact Petsch understands his place in the trucking world for right now. Not a bad thing or a judgment by any means, it just means he has supreme trust and respect for his mentor while comprehending there is still much more to be learned.

He knows the experience and knowledge Kimes possesses in the industry, and wants to sincerely learn as much as he can for his own future success.

With first impressions such as this, the story actually gets even stronger when we are talking about not giving enough credit to a younger generation.

While giving a first impression Petsch certainly understands the importance of common courtesy and respect sure, but when one truly begins to talk and get to know the young man there is one word to be said: ambition.

At just 19 years old, Petsch has already begun the process of starting his own private trucking business while also taking a giant step of already purchasing his own rig.

Most of us could agree if that’s not ambition for the future of a necessary industry for this area and the state of Wyoming, what other argument could we need?

At no surprise, Petsch knew this was the direction he wanted to go ever since he was 12 years old, and spoke highly of both Goshen County and the college’s CDL program.

“Everyone needs to take notes on this program,” Petsch began. “You really can’t beat it. What’s so cool is the amount of young people involved. Ever since I was a kid people would come out and chop silage, and I would always ask if I could drive the truck. I just grew up around it, and I always looked forward to cattle trucks coming to our feedlot. I’d even ride with them fifty yards from when they loaded onto the scale during wheat and corn harvest. I was always asking to drive no matter how old I was. But of course, I didn’t get to drive on the highway much when I was a kid.”

When it came to discussing the concept of how it was decided to buy his own truck at such a young age, Petsch was admittedly humble it primarily wasn’t an easy or fearless decision.

“It was about saving up enough to be able to get myself one,” Petsch continued. “I’ve worked since I was 16 saving up and always had the thought in my head, but was always scared to talk about it to a banker or loan officer. I was always scared, but when I went in they said my credit score was amazing.”

“My long-term goals are to own my own trucking company and be able to eventually sit behind a desk,” Petsch joked. Or to expand my trucking company and eventually sit behind a desk. I want to stick to Wyoming. Of course, I would go to Nebraska, Montana, and Colorado but Wyoming would be the home base. I don’t want to take anything to California or across the Mississippi. It’s really nice around here. Eventually, I might even come to be an instructor here with Ed. The biggest positives are so many people willing to take me under their wing and dispatch me. It’s just been great growing up in the community, and being around farming and trucking in between here and Cheyenne. One of the best things about Goshen County is the entire community. Goshen County has one of the best communities in my opinion.”

Adding to the determination and drive of his student, Kimes made a solid point if someone as young as Petsch could do something like this then any youth certainly could.

“It really says something about his ambition and goals when he wants to get his CDL and expand his business beyond exemptions,” Kimes added. “When we talk about compliance or doing things legal and correct, Sam wants to do that and respects it. It really says something about him. Who else can own their own business at 19? Every high school student has the potential to own their own business and be self-employed. It’s a goal and a dream for a lot of these kids, and they can set their own destiny. With Sam and other high schoolers, there are a lot of negative flies about our youth. But the ones who have gone through our program are not how the rest of the world sees young people. They have goals as to where they are going, and they have restored our faith and opinions in our youth.”

One thing is for certain. With an example being set by someone as young as Petsch, our younger generation is fully aware of who they are and where they are headed.

Which further means if there is one like him, there has got to be more of them. We haven’t found them yet, but they’re out there.