By Voice & Viewpoint Staff
Hosted at San Diego College of Continuing Education, the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL), facilitated the enlightening College Men of Color Student Panel.
The student panelists were Jesus Salazar, San Diego Mesa College student; Chenelson Estiverne, San Diego Continuing College of Education student, Christopher Gimutao, San Diego City College and San Diego Mesa College student; AJ Harris, Grossmont College student; and George Buchanan, San Diego Mesa College Transfer student.
George Buchanan, transfer student and military veteran, shared the resources that have helped him succeed.
“African American Male Education Network and Development, Black symposiums, Black meet and Greets, Celebrating Black Excellence Mixers, and Empowering Black Minds, are just a few of the many things that contributed to my educational success within the community college district.”
Buchanan also added, “If it wasn’t for the veterans office, I probably wouldn’t have stayed in school for the second time.”
AJ Harris, student-athlete at Grossmont College, conveys how college has been for him.
“Being a student-athlete is not the easiest thing in the world. Trying to balance, sports, school, and my personal life is hard. The teachers are taught to change the material to cater to student-athletes. I think it’s a way that I have learned to enjoy school more.”
Chenelson Estiverne, immigrant student from Belize, shares his experience in college.
“The support that I get from this University is not the support that I usually get from Belize, back home. This school is here for us, you just have to be patient and show up.”
In an effort to inspire and guide the young black men in the room who are about to embark on a similar journey, Buchanan leaves them with a few words for thought.
“In order to learn something you’re gonna have to do a lot of unlearning. Do not be embarrassed to get help. Use the resources that you have because they are not going to be there forever, so while you have it, use it.”
