Usually a father teaches his son how to ride a bike, catch a ball, or how to drive, however, there might be other lessons that may just be a bit more important than knowing how to throw a curve ball.

John Ross Gatlin, 28, graphic design major, knows the importance of working hard and furthering his knowledge because of his father. In Gatlin’s last year of high school, the man who inspired him to get involved with art passed away.

“It was a hard time for the whole family,” Gatlin said. “My father was my inspiration.”

From being a photographer, private investigator, contractor, to working with the city of Los Angeles as a building inspector, and collaborating with distinct local newspapers, Gatlin’s father seemed to be like Superman, he did just about everything.

“It instilled that thought, try and learn as much as you can,” Gatlin said.

Gatlin was recently was hired as the Marketing Assistant for Graduation Initiative, a program that according to Gatlin, “is about educating students about the benefits of earning your degree and transferring on.”

“To a degree I know John Ross probably better than most of my students,” Walter Cox, professor of fine arts said. “He’s an intelligent student, comes prepare to class, and he’s very motivated.”

Cox also added that Ross is one of his favorite students and that he has a very bright future ahead of him.

Another teacher who knows, and speaks highly of Gatlin is professor Joyce Dallal, an instructor of fine arts department at EC.

“He is very conscientious and hardworking; talented and humble at the same time,” Dallal said. “John was chosen as one of the lead designers for the Myriad one semester and another semester he worked with a small team on an extensive catalog of the work of Wayne Healy, well-known Los Angeles artist.”

Seemingly, Ross is well on his way to catching up to the amount of accomplishments his father did.

Overall, Gatlin strongly believes that it is important to expand knowledge in a broad amount of areas and hopes to be a spitting image of a hard worker just like his father.

“You don’t necessarily have to excel in everything,” Ross said. “But don’t limit yourself into one way of thinking. Branch out and learn different things.”