Juan Contreras grew up without someone to guide him on his educational goals, so he hopes he can help others to make the right decisions.
“Coming to GateWay Community College was really hard for me because of my past,” said Contreras. “Growing up in west Phoenix, I grew up around a lot of youth who needed some kind of mentoring.”
While at GateWay he studied social work and transferred to Arizona State University. At ASU, Contreras will continue studying social work.
“Growing up in that situation I thought we never had mentors around us,” shared Contreras. “So for me to pay it forward in the future I thought it would be the best way, for me to do social work and for me to pay it forward and help youth out, be there for youth and get them out of the environment that leads youth into the wrong direction.”
Contreras was at GateWay for two years.
“I took the classes I needed, I met with an advisor and the advisors here at GateWay led me in the right path and they did not let me take classes I did not need,” he stated.
After meeting with advisors and instructors, Contreras decided social work was the career path for him. He originally had come to GateWay planning to study air conditioning.
“I chose to study at GateWay because GateWay has small classrooms that a friend had told me about,” shared Contreras. He felt the small classes would help him ease into his college career.
During his time at GateWay, Contreras worked as a peer mentor and worked with the LIFT program. While working with LIFT, he worked with students as they transitioned from high school into college. Also, Contreras worked as a tutor in the Learning Center on campus.
“I started here at GateWay and my first time I did math I failed math, but going to the Learning Center helped me get an A and so everybody saw the progress I had made,” Contreras said. “They asked me to help tutor math at the Learning Center so I did, I enjoyed it and I loved.”
Contreras was chosen to speak at the May 2014 commencement ceremony.
“It was something I never imagined that I would be doing, but as you get involved on campus, and getting to know people a lot of people on campus, you get to pay it forward because of all the hard work you do and it was unimaginable,” he said.
Contreras feels that the staff and processes set up at GateWay provided the groundwork that helped him succeed in his pursuit.
“GateWay has made my journey to get my degree so perfect,” Contreras said. “The foundation was laid out, every semester was perfect. They were actually a really helping hand. If it wasn’t for GateWay I don’t think I would have had a degree or going to ASU.”
Having graduated with an Associate Degree, Contreras is now the first in his family to obtain a college degree. He is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Arizona State University.