A Matter of Principle: A PRCA Alumni Story

It’s an uncommon term referring to a sorrow which springs from the fear that the ability to change might one day escape. That one’s personality, once so malleable, a blank canvas to impression’s brush, should fossilize; that the grasp of the reigns of one’s character should slip away one final time.

It’s a fear that, once considered, looms upon the mind, as if some day shall come when one is to be imprisoned by their bad habits and uncorrected flaws. However, the personality-- even its least amorphous incarnations-- retains the levers of change; like a cruise ship, where a passenger, though confined to the locomotive’s larger course, may move about freely on board.

The same personality can drive many different disciplines. In fact, it was Ben Coate who demonstrated this in the aftermath of his graduation from Pusch Ridge Christian Academy-- now almost two decades removed. Reviewing his transition from bottom-tier student to construction leader, one thing is clear: times have moved on, and so has Ben. Yet, his signature traits-- a knack for leadership, a commitment to be the best, and a capacity for deep and respectful friendships-- these elements existed in him back then and they exist now, only far more refined, matured, but no less emphatic.

Certainly, Ben dealt with change, but his story is a narrative of consistency and growth.

After middle school, Ben Coate left public school behind, along with many of his old friends. He wasted little time fitting in; with contemporary PRCA classes being as small as they were (roughly 40 students across a grade), Ben became friends with virtually everyone. He played a bounty of sports all throughout: soccer, wrestling, and football; for all of these teams, he served as captain. He pushed for these teams to be the very best, and many of his closest friends were his teammates.

Rare moments of free time were spent in like athleticism: hunting, fishing, hiking, and, in fact, building. It was that lattermost task that Ben had done since childhood, taught by his father Bob Coate, the founder of Apcon Construction. A hardworking, well-respected, and devout man, Ben’s father left a strong impression on him.

Ben faltered, however, with grades and discipline. He achieved little beyond the academic threshold necessary to participate in sports. To him, much of what was being taught had no application and was therefore superfluous. Moreover, the dress code proved a particular snag; detentions and Saturday school were regular. Even these moments, however, Ben relished, becoming best friends with the maintenance workers. He often found himself in trouble with teachers-- teachers who loved him regardless. His unruly behavior was not malicious; rather, it was a way of having fun, and the consequence became more of an accepted trade-off. PRCA didn’t feel like school.

Having devoted so much time to sports, it was Ben’s aspiration to play at a college level. However, after high school, plans changed. Influenced by his father’s business, Ben went to construction trade school while his friends left for college. There, he spent five exacting years. Ben was already an amateur builder, but the precision demanded by proper construction work required mathematical aptitude.

In contrast to his high school showing, Ben devoted the necessary time and energy to become a proficient mathematician-- and, working with tangible applications for that math, actually enjoyed it. In academic performance, a field he once scuttled, Ben now found himself engaged. The meager, lenient high school environment had vanished; in its place was a business world where adherence to the rules and high-quality results were the bare minimum. Ben rose to the challenge; where he once prioritized the image of an entertainer, he now valued respect and the idea of being looked up to; though he remained in touch with his friends, he committed to the completion of his assignments.

Perhaps oxymoronically, some professional sports-related work did find its way to Ben after trade school-- as a wrestling and soccer coach for Pusch Ridge, from 2011-2016. Ben remains good friends with several present PRCA staff and all of his original friends. He now works at his father’s company Apcon Construction, a business based in Tucson that creates plumbing, HVAC, and fire prevention infrastructure, and Ben leads the company. Its clients include the US Air Force and Raytheon. He is fond of his work, as laborious as it can be. Living in the same area since graduation, he now has a family with two kids, every member of which is extremely busy, something he sees in a positive light.

In 2019, Bob Coate lost a battle with cancer. Having been such a prestigious and talented person, not to mention a formative role model, the loss had a profound impact on Ben. Bob was truly his best friend, and his absence left a persistent void.

In the years since high school, Ben had been maturing, becoming more like his father, quality by quality-- but after his death, there was one final aspect to inherit, like a jewel long neglected: his faith. Ben chose to fill that void with God, and, alongside many of his older friends, has become a much more prudent Christian with time.

It’s interesting, then, how different matters could have turned out if Ben had remained at Amphitheater Public School, as was initially planned. He feels as though PRCA is an exceptional place where a truly rare sort of lifelong friendships can be found and formed. Public school, in his opinion, could never host such genuine bonds.

Ben’s greatest regret in regard to high school is not having been more judicious from the get-go. Though he concedes that his misconduct was never spiteful in nature, he is earnestly remorseful for the lack of care he showed his teachers, in addition to his middling academic performance.

Throughout the great majority of his life, Ben has sought to be a remarkably proficient leader-- but those zones of leadership have shifted dramatically. Where he once led on the field, and in rousing his classmates, today he serves as not just the leader of a construction union (prestigious as that may be) but also a leader in diligence, a leader in mathematics, and a leader to his children, as his father was for him.

Always, Ben possessed the drive to never renege; and, in maturing, has applied that same principle to bridge the gap between class probationer and labor leader, and has remained a consistent character throughout.

The concept of Alazia appears harrowing. The story of Ben Coate, however, casts a light. None are entirely trapped by themselves. In shrewd guidance, and by God’s mercy, a weakness can become a strength, as a flawed gemstone can still shine.