It’s easy to think of students, especially undergraduates, as a cohesive group. But each student is different—with different interests and needs that shape the paths they take to attaining their education. For instance, community college students tend to be older and more diverse. Many already have work experience. For these students—and many others—education and workforce training models must go well beyond classroom learning. Hear from five people who have been able make major career moves with the help of innovative training opportunities, resources, and support networks from community colleges. You can learn more about their stories by watching this video.
Jean Bazile worked in design architecture for many years, commuting nearly 100 miles every day, before quitting to pursue his dream job in photonics engineering. During one of his commutes, Jean heard an advertisement on the radio for a photonics technician program at Stonehill Community College that inspired him to switch careers. He has since completed the training program, interned at a semiconductor company, and enrolled at Bridgewater State University as a photonics engineer major.
Mussie Demisse, a software engineer at Oracle, graduated from MIT in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science. He began studying computer science at Bunker Hill Community College, where he enrolled after immigrating to the United States from Ethiopia. Mussie credits the resources and support available to students at community colleges for his educational and career successes.
Kaitlyn Fricke studied manufacturing technology at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, MA. But after deciding to attend college, she recalls, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to continue on the manufacturing path. At Springfield Technical Community College, Kaitlyn majored in mechanical engineering, which gave her the opportunity to bridge her background in manufacturing with her interest in engineering. Currently, Kaitlyn is working at Peerless Precision and studying advanced manufacturing systems at Northeastern University.
Greg Harris, a quality associate at precision machine shop VSS, spent 19 years as a production-side manager at a newspaper before pandemic-related layoffs forced him to rethink his future. After completing a 6-week computer numerical control (CNC) operator training program at Greenfield Community College, he explains that he gained the hard skills that enabled him to make a career switch in a short amount of time.
Marissa Nye is a WIC peer counselor, providing breastfeeding information and support to new moms. She has interned at the Women of Color Health Equity Collective in Springfield, MA. Motivated by her own experiences to give back to the community, particularly to new mothers from under-resourced backgrounds, she enrolled in a grant-funded community health worker program at Holyoke Community College. Marissa, who also has a bachelor’s degree in sociology, found that community colleges gave her a springboard to new opportunities.
Not only are these stories inspiring on the individual level; they exemplify the need for schools, employers, and policymakers to invest at a systems level in creating education and workforce training models that help people to achieve their career goals—and their dreams. To close the gap between education and employment, students need support beyond the classroom, including career advising, mentorship, and other resources to help them find the right direction and stay on track. Learn more about joining the Global Opportunity Initiative here.