In 2011, Justin Sanchez exchanged his military uniform for civilian clothes and went from being an Army Staff Sergeant to a Glendale Community College Gaucho. It was a combination of his time in the army and encouragement from his mother that made him decide to go to college. “I had been accepted to the University of North Carolina. However, I wanted to be closer to where I was raised, plus I felt that attending a community college would be a smoother transition.”
Justin is quick to point out that his hunch was correct, especially as he began to interact with GCC’s Veterans Service Center. But it was also the faculty and affordable tuition that made a big difference. “Originally, I was going for a major in sociology, but I decided to take a few psychology classes, and that changed everything,” stated Justin. Due to GCC’s affordable tuition, he was able to explore other courses outside of sociology. It was after taking Statistics and Research Methodology that he knew he needed to change his major. He cited Julie Morrison, Ilder Betancourt Lopez, and Tamara Malamuth as positive influences. “GCC really helped broaden my horizons, introduce me to psychology, and expose me to arts and culture. I was able to afford to take classes that helped me gain an understanding and appreciation for classical music, theater, and art.”
After graduating from GCC with his associate’s degree, Justin was off to ASU, where he earned his bachelor's degree and master’s degree in psychology. It was at that point that Justin decided that he was not done with GCC. Ilder Betancourt Lopez reconnected with Justin and invited him to become an adjunct faculty member in GCC’s Psychology department. Justin related that it was odd at first, but it quickly became very fulfilling. He commented on the numerous obstacles that many community college students face; housing insecurity, working several jobs, taking care of family members and more. “I really learned to respect how hard students work and how motivated they are.”
When asked about the motivation behind all of his academic accomplishments, Justin reflected on his two tours of duty in Afghanistan. “My experience during my deployments really drove me. Not everyone who went over there came back. I did not want to waste the opportunity that I was given in coming home, when others did not. They never had the chance; to honor them, I knew I had to go out and achieve.” To that point, Justin recently earned his Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice, with even greater achievements yet to come.
Thank you, Justin, for serving our country and for being a proud Gaucho alumni.