GCC grads journey onward
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Last night’s graduating class for the 2014-15 academic year at Glendale Community College ranged in age from 18 to 84 years old as students continued their education in pursuit of a better future.
“Remember that learning is never ending,” said David Viar, the college’s president/superintendent, during the annual graduation ceremony on Wednesday.
PHOTOS: Glendale Community College graduation ceremony
In his address at the ceremony on Sartoris Athletic Field on campus, he congratulated the class of 886 students who earned their associate’s degrees or various professional certificates.
“The hard work that you’ve done to earn your degree will serve you well,” said Andrew Young, president of the academic senate.
Many of the students will go on to transfer to four-year universities to further their education. But for Francisco Aguilar, president of the Associated Students of Glendale Community College, the decision to even begin his educational path was initially up in the air.
He is a first-generation college student.
Aguilar said he had a hard time deciding whether it was worth it to go to college, given that some of the world’s most successful people ended up dropping out.
“Then reality hit me in the face: Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard. GCC isn’t Harvard, sadly,” he said. “So I did what any student would do. I switched my major and found my second chance.”
Aguilar is going on to UC Santa Cruz to study economics.
He said he received plenty of help and mentoring after reaching out to the college’s student services offices and soon he was back on track.
“GCC is a first step toward a college degree for many, and also a second chance for higher education for others,” Aguilar said.