Though he grew up in Tennessee and tried college for a while, it wasn't until he moved to Massachusetts and began driving a school bus full of teens, this he became inspired to head back to the classroom himself.

Clayton Ward credits the students he was transporting to their Framingham high school for helping him rediscover his dream of earning a college degree.

"I really enjoy working with kids, especially the high school students, and during the bus routes, we would chat about their classes. As a history buff, I would share lessons that I learned in school and we talked a lot about academics," said Clayton.

"After several of these discussions, some of the students would tell me they wanted me to be their teacher. I think they only said that because I was a different person than their regular teachers, educating them in a different way to pique their interest."

But, however small that mention was from those kids, it stuck with him and provided the motivation to complete a goal he had started years before.

Talking to the students on his school bus every day, "renewed his sense of passion for expanding and teaching young minds." He enrolled at MassBay Community College in May 2019 with the goal of earning his degree, transferring to a four-year institution, and some day teaching history to high school students-just as he did with the kids on his bus route.

Clayton worked full-time, driving the school bus while attending classes full-time at MassBay. He focused on doing the best he could in all his classes, and it paid off.

He earned a spot on the Dean's List every semester, was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society, and graduated with a perfect 4.0 average. Last month he earned the All-Divisional Award for having the highest GPA in the Humanities and Social Sciences division-and in the Liberal Arts program.

"It wasn't always easy. I would drive my route in the morning and afternoon, take a class in between shifts, and take night classes and classes online to complete my degree requirements. I would think of those students and all the years I wanted to make this happen, and it helped me focus my energy."

"Many years ago, I heard a quote from my former middle and high school band teacher, which helped me stay the course and get to where I am now. My teacher said, 'Discipline is not doing what you are supposed to be doing when everyone is watching. Discipline is doing what you are supposed to be doing when nobody is watching.'"

And, thanks to lots of free time during the pandemic, in just one year, Clayton has completed his Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts and will transfer to Framingham State University in the fall to pursue his bachelor degree in History, with a minor in Secondary Education.

WATCH an interview with WCVB News 5 in Boston…