The fall of 2023 was the beginning of a journey I never expected to take. I became an official Chabot College student, walking onto a campus I had never toured and stepping into a school I barely knew. I didn’t enter with confidence. I did not think I was smart enough for college. I did not think I would ever walk across a stage. What helped me in those early days were the familiar faces from different grade schools who ended up at Chabot too. They kept me grounded when everything felt overwhelming. Along the way, I met new friends who became just as important. Looking back, those connections shaped my entire experience.
I want to say thank you to everyone who helped me, supported me, or even offered a hand to someone on campus who needed it. You made this place feel like home. This farewell is not meant to make anyone sad or nervous about the future. It is simply my version of a story that many Gladiators have told before me, and many will tell after me. I am doing it in a way that reflects who I am and what this journey means to me.
Four or five years ago, I did not care about school at all. I did not see myself as someone who could succeed in college. Now I am preparing to transfer to San Francisco State University to major in Broadcasting and Electronic Communication Arts. That is something I never imagined. A huge part of that growth came from my professors, especially Thomas Lothian and Philip Iguencho. They pushed me, believed in me, and checked in on me when life outside of school became heavy. They helped me keep going when I did not have the answers.
Chabot has a way of pulling you out of whatever shell you put yourself in. I used to sit in the back of the class, stay quiet, finish my work, and go straight home. That was my routine for a long time. Somewhere between Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, something changed. Time was moving fast, and I realized I was finally having fun. I started talking to people I never expected to connect with. People who looked different, talked differently, and liked different things. None of that mattered. Nobody made me feel like the odd one out, and I never wanted anyone else to feel that way either.
I wasn’t the only student who felt that shift. When I interviewed Leo, who’s transferring to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he told me something that stuck with me: “There’s days where I’m super excited and ready to do it, and then there’s days where I’m just super nervous, it’s scary not knowing what lies ahead, but it’s also exciting to know you get to create your own journey.” Hearing that reminded me that all of us, no matter where we’re headed, are figuring it out as we go.
The friendships I made at Chabot are friendships I will carry with me long after I leave. When I first arrived, I was not trying to reconnect with anyone. I was focused on class, attendance, and going home. Eventually, that routine became boring. I opened up. I let people in. Even my teachers noticed the shift and encouraged it. That was another push I did not know I needed.
Another student I spoke with had the same view. Alex Kirley, who’s heading to Cal State East Bay, told me, “When I first came here, I didn’t really take it all that seriously, but coming back older and wiser, I realized if you want to transfer, just get your work done. Keep your grades up.” That type of honesty reminded me that everyone’s path looks different, and that growth doesn’t always happen in a straight line.
If you are reading this as someone who is just starting at Chabot and wondering what comes next, here is what I learned. Trust yourself. Ask for help. Nothing is embarrassing about it. Chabot has more resources than you can count on your hands and feet, and the faculty here genuinely want to see you succeed. There were days when I wanted to quit. Days when the workload felt impossible. Days when life outside of school made everything harder. I kept going. I leaned on my friends, my professors, and the community around me. That is why I am here now, earning my degrees and watching my peers succeed right alongside me.
One of those peers, Gloria Rodriguez, who’s also transferring to SF State, told me something that perfectly captures what Chabot teaches you: “Chabot taught me the art of falling down and then getting back up again. Not everyone succeeds the first time, but community college is an opportunity to pick yourself up again.” Her words felt like something every new student should hear, especially me, since self-doubt is a huge monster, but there is nothing wrong with losing a step. There is nothing wrong with taking longer than you planned. If you believe in yourself, you will not lose the race.
This is my Gladiator Farewell. Thank you, Chabot, for helping me and my peers thrive in this world.
