This month, Gabriel Sinohui will take the stage with hundreds of other Mesa Community College graduates to celebrate a long sought after goal: earning a bachelor's degree. Gabriel is part of the first group of students graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Data Analytics and Programming from MCC.
For Sinohui, the achievement represents years of perseverance, including returning to school full time after decades in the workforce. “Deciding to go to school full time after working for 30 years was its own hurdle, but life will always throw you curveballs that you will have to deal with,“ Sinohui said.
He remarks that there were times he needed to put his education on hold due to family responsibilities. Through it all, Sinohui never gave up on his dream of earning a degree. His wife played a key role.
“I'm grateful for my wife who supported me all through my college journey,” he said. “I could not have done it without her.”
Sinohui chose MCC for the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree. Once enrolled he also discovered what became the best part of his academic journey, the connections he made with professors and fellow students.
“All the different personalities and backgrounds made for unique interactions,” Sinohui said. “MCC created an environment where he could connect with people he may not have had the opportunity to meet otherwise’
He also credits MCC’s faculty and staff for helping shape his experience.
“There is another reason I chose MCC, the staff. I had taken classes at several of the Maricopa community colleges during my AA and the staff at MCC made me want to go here, the fact that it was the school offering the BAS I wanted just made it a foregone conclusion.
Sinohui encourages students to embrace opportunities that challenge them, saying “Don't let apprehension keep you from participating in classes or taking classes you may feel uncomfortable with. They are opportunities to grow and learn outside your comfort zone.”
His final piece of advice is simple: “It's never too late to learn.”