Robert Lawrence enrolled at Virginia Peninsula Community College hoping to find his passion.
“I’ve been through probably three or four different programs, from engineering and nursing, and now I’m pursuing fine arts,” he said.
Chris Abaya found his passion for videography years ago but enrolled at VPCC to sharpen his photography skills.
“People think videography and still photography are the same thing, but it’s vastly different. I’m very skilled in videography. I’m confident and comfortable. I’m not so confident in still photography,” Abaya said.
The two worked together on a project in Randie Trestrail’s ART 208 Video Techniques class and “produced a very high-quality video,” she said. In the four-minute video, Abaya discussed the benefits and hesitations of attending college at the age of 49. Lawrence could relate somewhat; he is 32.
But that is not all they have in common. Lawrence spent 9½ years on active duty in the Air Force. Abaya is a civil servant who has been a videographer for the Department of the Navy for almost 20 years. In class, they quickly bonded over their age and associations with the military.
Trestrail admitted their pairing wasn’t by happenstance.
“I observe the students in class to see who is talking to whom, how they get along, and how their interests align,” she said, adding she often pairs more experienced students with less experienced ones.
It couldn’t have worked out better. Each brought a different skill set to the project, which involved conducting an interview and providing the supporting video known as “B roll.”
Lawrence said Abaya’s wealth of experience in the latter area as well as with setting up a shot was important.
“Chris knew how to do all that, so he was able to walk me through it,” Lawrence said. “And just seeing how a professional does it and adapting how I do it to that way.”
Abaya was more than willing to share his knowledge.
“He was really open and willing to learn. He asked great questions, and he’s not scared to ask questions,” Abaya said.
Lawrence also didn’t hesitate to take control, which Abaya attributed to Lawrence’s military background.
“Even though I’m older and I have more experience, he knows how to take charge, and he was kind of the director, quote unquote, on set,” Abaya said. “He helped bring story points out of me even though I was the one with more experience.”
Lawrence joined the military after high school and served until 2022, taking advantage of the GI bill to attend VPCC. He earned an Air Force associate degree in armament loading but this is his first time enrolling in a public college.
“I’m just trying to find what my passion is,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed doing this video, especially the editing part.”
He often found himself getting lost in his work.
“I didn’t know what I expected to find in going back to school, but that’s the kind of thing I’m looking for. ‘What am I going to get lost in?’ We will see where it goes,” he said.
“I have really enjoyed this class and my photography class, so now I’m kind of eye-balling what can I do in this lane,” he said.
Lawrence is on track to earn his Associate Degree in Fine Arts in fall 2026.
Abaya has always been interested in film and attended Old Dominion University for about a year after high school. He was majoring in English, with an emphasis on creative writing, and minoring in film studies. However, he went on to a career with the Department of the Navy that enabled him to stay behind the camera and editing machines, as he aspired to be a filmmaker. He is scheduled to earn a Career Studies Certificate in photography in spring 2026. His employer also is paying for his education.
“I want to fix that gap in my expertise,” he said. “My command sometimes asks me to do still photography, and I don’t have that confidence like I have with videography.”
Trestrail said everyone benefits from non-traditional students on a college campus.
“I always enjoy having older students in my classes because they help set the tone and model positive behavior,” she said.
That certainly is the case with Abaya and Lawrence.
“With his background in video production and his own work in film, he brings a lot of creativity and enthusiasm for the subject,” Trestrail said of Abaya. “His practical technical skills with equipment and software are also a big help to other students.”
Lawrence’s curiosity stands out to Trestrail.
“He actively seeks feedback and receives it with openness and grace,” she said. “That quality is especially valuable, as curiosity is the driving force behind creativity.”
Teamwork and creativity are important in Trestrail’s classes.
“Putting one’s creative work out there is not always easy,” she said. “Video and film production is an intensely collaborative process.”
She described it as a craft and an art, with several parts to the craft.
“Just as filmmakers in the industry rely on one another, students in class also depend on each other’s skills and support,” Trestrail said. “Nothing gives me greater joy than watching them collaborate, form friendships, share meals after a shoot, and support each other’s creative work. Chris and Robert work beautifully together, as do all the art students in our programs.”
The video opens with Abaya discussing ways to deliver his lines better. He comes back to that at the end as he searches for his “curtain line,” which ends up being “never stop learning.”
Abaya and Lawrence show what can be done with that approach.