# James Stron Left Tech After 25 Years and Now Drives a School Bus

> After spending nearly 25 years in the tech industry, Colorado-based software engineer James Stron has started a completely new career as a school bus driver following his layoff from Adobe.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Success Stories · **Published:** 2026-08-17 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/success-stories/james-stron-left-tech-after-25-years-and-now-drives-a-school-bus-17782 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** James Stron, layoffs, tech industry, school bus driver, Deepa Mishra, journalism

It is often said that gaining extensive experience in any professional field makes you invaluable and difficult to replace. However, the life story of James Stron, a resident of Colorado, takes a different turn. After spending roughly twenty-five years working in the technology sector, he has now embarked on a brand-new professional chapter as a school bus driver. James previously worked at Adobe as a software quality engineer. However, in August 2025, he was laid off from his position. Following this, he continuously searched for new employment opportunities, but ultimately faced persistent disappointment. Overwhelmed by these setbacks, he finally began working as a school bus driver. James shared a post about this transition on LinkedIn, which has quickly gone viral.

## The Struggle and Despair After Losing the Job
When Adobe laid off James, he went through a tremendously stressful period. He left no stone unturned in his search for work, applying to numerous companies persistently. Despite all his efforts, he faced continuous rejection. James explains that he tried his best, but failed to receive a decent response from the high-tech industry. During this period, he also had to endure significant hardships. Ultimately, he decided to begin a fresh chapter in his life. James wrote on LinkedIn that he feels immensely happy to have successfully managed to make a fresh start.

## Finding Peace and Joy Despite Lower Pay
Although James faces certain challenges in his new job, including a significantly lower salary compared to the tech industry, he expresses genuine happiness regarding this change. He described his new work operating a school bus as quite fun and entertaining. Furthermore, he noted that his colleagues in this role are caring, kind, and exceptionally polite by nature. James mentioned that next week he will embark on his new and potentially final career chapter. Although the pay here is quite low, the work is enjoyable, the school children are wonderful, and the people are fantastic.

## Gratitude Toward Former Colleagues and Future Outlook
In addition, James expressed his gratitude toward his former colleagues and his connections on LinkedIn. He noted that while finding a new job came with difficulties, their continuous support remained steadfast. Regarding his previous company, James wrote that they overlooked him, brought him down, and ultimately let him go. Despite all of this, he thanked them for showing him a better future. It is because of them that he now drives a forty-foot bus instead of sitting in front of a computer. He also thanked everyone who chose not to give him the time of day during his search for new employment.

## Deepa Mishra and His Journey Into Journalism
Originally hailing from Azamgarh, Deepa Mishra entering the field of journalism was hardly a coincidence. Reading various magazines and newspapers delivered to his home naturally led him to eventually write news reports for the press himself. However, this journey was far from easy. After completing his intermediate education, when his family caught wind of his intentions, he faced considerable opposition. He then resolved to gain direct ground-level experience. With this exact mindset, while pursuing his graduation, he started working at a local television channel in Azamgarh. Recording city activities on camera, writing news bulletins, and occasionally reading them in front of the camera only strengthened his resolve to pursue a career exclusively in media.

## Educational Background and Roles in Media Outlets
After completing his graduation in English, Political Science, and History from DAV Degree College in Azamgarh, he earned a Master's degree in Mass Communication from Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University. Following this, his career in newspaper journalism began with Aaj. He then joined Dainik Hindustan iNext's bilingual newspaper in Varanasi, working on the desk. From there, his journey led him to the central desk in Kanpur, followed by taking charge as the central desk head at Patrika newspaper's evening edition, News Today. Later, he also got the opportunity to work on the sports desk for Patrika. While working with the Patrika Group, he was awarded for his coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

His return to Uttar Pradesh happened once again through Dainik Hindustan iNext, where he was assigned the role of desk head in Gorakhpur. During his second stint with iNext, he served twice as the editorial in-charge for the Gorakhpur edition. For a brief period, he also managed the responsibilities of desk head in Allahabad. While working at Dainik Hindustan iNext, he continuously produced video stories for digital formats. This included video stories created specifically for Kumbh 2019. Later, he hosted two podcast shows for the organization, one titled IPL Record Book and the other Shehar Ka Kissa.

Since June 2021, he has been an integral part of Live Hindustan's home team. During this tenure, he covered numerous elections and major national and international events. Furthermore, actively collaborating with the sports desk, he played a key role in coverage during the IPL, the T20 World Cup, and the Champions Trophy. Throughout Kumbh 2025, he also produced several important video stories for Live Hindustan. When it comes to his personal interests, watching films, reading books, and continually learning new skills rank among his top priorities. He is highly proficient in shooting videos with a mirrorless camera and editing them using Premiere Pro. Among his favorite subjects, cinema and sports remain closest to his heart.

## What this means for you
**Professional Impact:** This story highlights the career adaptability required when facing sudden layoffs and uncertainty in the corporate and tech sectors.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Which company did James Stron previously work for?
James Stron previously worked at Adobe as a software quality engineer.

### 2. When was James Stron laid off from his job?
James Stron was laid off from his job in August 2025.

### 3. What is James Stron doing now for work?
After losing his job and facing continuous rejections, James Stron is now working as a school bus driver.

### 4. Where did Deepa Mishra complete his higher education?
Deepa Mishra earned his Master's degree in Mass Communication from Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University.

## Inspiration & Lessons
**Positive Mindset in Hard Times:** Instead of losing hope after a major setback like a layoff, one should have the courage to start fresh.

**No Work is Small:** Prioritizing mental peace and happiness over conventional job status can lead to personal fulfillment.

**Continuous Learning:** Embracing new skills and adapting to changing circumstances helps individuals move forward in life.

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