June 4th, 2026 was my last day as a student at College of the Canyons (COC). Compared to my graduation from high school, closing this book (it certainly feels like so much more than just a chapter!) is significantly more difficult. Although I’m ready to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO), my time at COC has been immensely transformative. I’d like to start off with my first experience at College of the Canyons.

Finding the Astronomy & Physics Club

I recall it was during my senior year of high school, that my digital arts teacher arranged a tour of the College of the Canyons main campus for us. I went into it thinking it might be nice to get an idea of what the campus really looked like, not expecting much. For context, I had NEVER been part of a club in high school, so I had absolutely no clue that clubs were such a big thing. Upon entering the East Gym on campus, there were about 10 or so clubs all presenting their work. But right in the center of the gym (and I promise I’m not exaggerating) under a bright light was the Astronomy & Physics Club. After talking with some of the students, it was probably the very first time I said “I should join this club.” Trust me, that was not normal for me to say. I usually would put up every barrier possible when it came to attending social gatherings such as this. There’s a certain level of vulnerability that comes with it, and high-school me didn’t think I had what it takes. Nonetheless, I gave it a shot!

During my very first meeting with the club, I was asked to do the most scary thing: introduce myself (spooky). The club advisor, Professor Teresa Ciardi, was so welcoming and although I was a nervous wreck, I did feel like I fit in. Just a few weeks after joining I had the honor to work on my very first space project: Great Lunar Expedition for Everyone (GLEE). This is the first time I ever worked with an engineering team. It was only a matter of time until I became the Club President, which to this day, is one of the most unexpected things I have. Especially considering that I was new to College of the Canyons. But, without the support of Professor Ciardi and her co-advisor Professor Greg Poteat, I wouldn’t have even had that opportunity. That is something I am eternally grateful for.

Since those moments (which feel like just a few weeks ago), I’ve been so blessed to work on RockSat for 3.25 consecutive years (the 0.25 comes from the 2023 project where I joined a month before it ended). If I took the time to discuss everything I learned, I think I would run out of storage on my computer…and I wouldn’t want that. This was just one of the many big things that happened at College of the Canyons. More recently, the center of my time at COC has been my involvement with the Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program.

Exploring a New Path

I joined the MESA program as a fully qualified member, in late 2024. I would mainly go there to study, but it eventually became a place where I would find new friends. So many friends. It was the first time where I felt like I really, really belonged and connected with everyone there. All of us were in the same classes, similar majors, and many of us had similar life experiences. After heavy hesitation and fear, I was encouraged by many to become a tutor at the MESA center. In the best way possible, I did not know what I was getting myself into by filling out that application. After beginning the job in the summer of 2025, it took about a week until I had my first student. This student came to me to ask about Trigonometry. That was such a relief, because I couldn’t imagine being thrown into something like trig substitution for my first time tutoring. Either way, while trying to explain how to approach problems, it reminded me of the time I would spend helping my sister with math. If you asked me when I first helped her, I would’ve told you I disliked it. But once I realized that tutoring presents its own challenges, I began to appreciate it. Essentially what I’m saying is that when I first started tutoring at MESA, I had already known I kind of enjoyed teaching. I just never really saw it as a career. MESA changed that.

Since then, I have helped so many students with math and physics. So much so that my whole life began to feel like a bunch of numbers (I’m particularly complaining about that though!). My educational plan changed from getting my Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering and going straight for a job to planning on getting a Master’s in Physics (and maybe even a PhD, if that seems like the right path) and going into teaching as a community college professor. Being a professor is now my dream job. I am determined to do what it takes to get to that place.

Honorable Mentions

Of course, there were so many professors that have had a profound impact on my journey. A few I am very grateful are:

Professor Tekola: My physics professor who helped me find my passion for physics. He has been such a large supporter of journeys. He always checked in on my classmates and I and made going to physics beyond exciting. Professor Foley: Hands down, the best engineering professor I have had. She is extremely inspiring and knowledgeable and reminded me how fun engineering can be. Professor Salah Eddin: This professor is the only reason I am attending Cal Poly SLO. I say that because I told him I was only planning to apply to San Jose State University and he challenged that by saying “you should apply to other places. It doesn’t hurt!” He was the person that finally pushed me towards applying to a bunch of UCs and CSUs. Cal Poly SLO soon became my dream school.

There is absolutely no way I could thank everyone but I do want to just write a short excerpt about the MESA Director, Amy Foote, and the tutor lead in MESA:

They have been the kindest people to me. When I was going through a bit of a rough patch, they genuinely built me up to be more resilient than ever. They have always had faith in my ability to tutor others and they have presented me with so many unforgettable opportunities. Thank you guys, dearly.

Closing the Book

This has been a very personal blog post, but it only seemed right. Moving on from COC feels unreal and maybe writing about it will be a nice reminder when I eventually come back to read this. As I move forward to Cal Poly SLO, I know that my time at COC will be the foundation I stand on as I get acclimated to the new environment. This has been a roller coaster of three years, but some of the best life has offered so far. To anyone in a community college now (or in university), I hope you get a chance to experience community in a similar way as described here. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this and I hope it was meaningful!

- Cameron