A Welcome Feeling
"I felt like folks here already knew me, as if it was a familiar place I'd been before. I was taken away by the liveliness of the faculty and staff and all the different clubs and support services. That was heartening, and it motivated me to get involved." – Student-Trustee Barney Garcia '24
As a recent Western Mass. transplant, California native Barney Garcia didn't know much about HCC when he enrolled for the fall 2022 semester. He'd done a little online research but had yet to visit. A year later, he's still not quite sure why he chose HCC over other area colleges. It was more of a feeling than anything else.
"It was something that really screamed: 'We might not know you, but we welcome you,'" Garcia says.
His first trip to campus came on Accepted Students Day. That confirmed his hunch.
"I felt like folks here already knew me, as if it was a familiar place I'd been before," he said. "I was taken away by the liveliness of the faculty and staff and all the different clubs and support services. It was a lot different than my community college back home. That was heartening, and it motivated me to get involved."
Garcia didn't waste any time. He joined Student Senate, restarted the dormant Emerging Business Leaders Club, which he now serves as president, and obtained a work-study position in the HCC Business Office.
This month, the 20-year-old business administration major from Northampton started his second year as the newly elected student-trustee.
Why did you move East, young man?
I come from the city of Riverside, in southern California, about an hour from Palm Springs. After high school, I started at Moreno Valley Community College. I was raised by my grandparents and very close to both of them. They passed away within two months of each other at the beginning of my second semester. I didn't really have a home left in California after that. I put my education on hold and took some time to reevaluate myself.
Did you always intend to study business?
I wanted to go into nuclear physics. I have a profound passion for nuclear energy. That was something I wanted to dedicate myself to. However, I found out the hard way that STEM is not my area, and as much as I love math, I'm not a science person. I found that business is more of my calling. That was also what my grandparents really wanted me to do.
Tell us about the Local Commonwealth Finance Fellowship you received last spring?
That was a summer-long, state-sponsored internship for community college students. During the month of June, we received training in pretty much every topic you could imagine related to municipal finance. From July to September, I worked full time for the city of Northampton as a municipal finance professional. I rotated throughout the different financial areas of the city, from the Assessor's office all the way to the Tax Collector's office.
How did that go?
It gave me a great appreciation for the public sector and how all the different roles collaborate and intermingle. I think I found the kind of career that I want to go into. I've always been interested in public service. I like helping people. I feel like working for a city the work I would do isn't just enriching one person or group of people. It's helping everyday citizens, and that is much more meaningful than what I could ever do working for a private sector company.
Why did you want to serve on the Board of Trustees?
At first, I was aiming to be Student Senate president. But I felt the college could really use someone who knows what they want, knows how to do it, and who has a fiery passion to do good and have a meaningful impact. I do a lot of work for Student Senate, and it's meaningful work, but I felt I wanted to do something that was beyond the Senate. I wanted to do something that would help everyone.
What are your goals as student-trustee?
I guess my main priority is helping student find their best selves. If I had never decided to get involved I would be sitting here today. I wouldn't have any of these roles. I probably wouldn't have had that internship. So I really stress to people to get involved. You never know what meaningful connections you're going to make.
What's been your biggest challenge so far at HCC?
Trying to find a work-life balance and stay level-headed. On top of work, studying, Senate, class, and clubs, I'm everywhere. It's very time-consuming.
What's the most important thing you've learned so far?
I would say, being able to step back and just not go crazy trying to do everything all at once.
What's been your most memorable or meaningful experience at HCC?
Going to the Woo Sox game for community college night. I had a lot of fun there. It was great to be able to get away from the college business and chat with faculty, staff, and students as real people. It was a great getaway.
As student-trustee, you've been spending a lot of time with our new president, who, like you, was raised by his grandmother.
There's not many people out there that have to go through that. President Timmons and I, we get along pretty swell. We're so new, we're still building that relationship. I like to think that we're both learning this whole thing together.
What's your plan after HCC?
I'm going to graduate in spring 2024 and then head off to the UMass Isenberg School of Management. I'm thankful for the business administration transfer program here. It's an easy pipeline into that school.
Are you happy you chose HCC?
Something that I always tell people is that I really struck gold. I think coming to HCC was the best decision I've made in a long time. I don't feel I could have gotten the same level of opportunities anywhere else.
PHOTO: Barney Garcia
