By Vanessa Salvia
Lane Community College student Jose Maxwell is only 18 years old, just a year out of high school and a long way from earning his doctorate, but he has a reminder of his career goals every time he uses his email address, which starts with "Dr.JoseMaxwell."
"I see that and it makes me want to achieve that," Maxwell says. He even dresses the part, preferring a snappy look of fedoras and bowties for his everyday attire. After earning his transfer degree from Lane, Maxwell hopes to attend law school at the University of Oregon, studying criminal justice or Constitutional law.
Maxwell grew up in Cottage Grove. His mother, Suyapa, studied at Lane before transferring to the University of Oregon, and brought him to classes with her from the time he was a baby. Even though Suyapa was a young parent, she earned her GED at Lane and instilled in him the importance of an education.
Maxwell's first year at Lane is paid for through ACTS, or Advanced Career Technical Sponsorship Program, which is funded by the 4J School District. "But even before the scholarship came through I was planning on going to Lane first because it's a smart choice," he says.
So far, he's taken writing classes, sociology, physical education, communications, and his hardest class so far, introductory drawing. Maxwell's writing instructor, Gina Szabady, made an impression on him. "She made the class seem like if you had questions you were free to ask," he says. "And she was understanding. If you were sick and weren't in class she wouldn't penalize you for that."
Maxwell appreciates that Lane has tutoring available if he ever needs it. His favorite place on campus is the library, where he frequently works on his homework and uses the printers.
He's working his first job, at a Taco Bell, while taking classes, and admits that he doesn't have much free time but he knows that being at Lane is the right way to get started. "I think Lane's a great place," he says. "I like the small class sizes. The teachers care and it's more one-on-one."
For more information about earning a transfer programs at Lane, go line at: http://www.lanecc.edu/counseling/transfer-programs
Published by Lane Community College Marketing and Public Relations July 2015.