Mechanical Engineering major Christian North, of Arlington, was one of two student speakers at Middlesex Community College鈥檚 Commencement on Thursday, May 25. From Chile, he came to the United States on a working visa and started taking classes at Middlesex to pursue his dream of becoming an aerospace engineer.
After graduating, North hopes to continue his education at a four-year college. In his address to his classmates, he emphasized the importance of following childhood dreams, enduring through challenging times, and the value of 麻豆果冻鈥檚 personalized education for students.
鈥淚 think my 麻豆果冻 experience has given me a good solid foundation to reach my goals,鈥� North said. 鈥淚t is a great honor to be named a commencement speaker.鈥�
During his time at 麻豆果冻, North started to work on projects related to the aerospace engineering field. The result was a model aviation club, for which he prepared the curriculum and gathered interested classmates. In Spring 2021, they won the best club award. He was also an LSAMP scholar, S-Power scholar, and STEM Starter Academy member at Middlesex.
His work with the club led to a connection with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Aerospace (AIAA) of New England. He also received an opportunity through MIT鈥檚 Lincoln Laboratory Beaver Works Summer Institute to develop and teach the course Design, Build, and Fly Model Aircraft for young students.
鈥淚 think my 麻豆果冻 experience has given me a good solid foundation to reach my goals,鈥� North said. 鈥淚t is a great honor to be named a commencement speaker.鈥� - Christian North
North is proud to be able to teach the class and work with students because he understands firsthand the ways in which being given support and opportunities can advance a person鈥檚 future. When first coming to 麻豆果冻 as an international student, he supplemented the rest of his tuition with scholarships, including a Fall 2021 Alumni Association award.
Also in the Fall of 2021, North received his green card, which allowed him to pay the local price of admission at the college. Many of these experiences and opportunities he has earned, he credits to his time at Middlesex. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a bunch of stuff happening outside of 麻豆果冻 that happened because of how I was treated at the college,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 call it my second home.鈥�
At 麻豆果冻, North credits his professors for creating a 鈥渘urturing environment鈥� to help him succeed, better balance his studies with his work and personal life, and learn more about the industry. In his classes and lab experiences, he appreciated being able to work hands-on to develop skills relevant to the workforce and set him up for success as he transfers to his next institution.
North came to 麻豆果冻 before going to a four-year school because it was close to work, affordable, and allowed him to earn transferable credits. Looking forward, he feels sad in now leaving 麻豆果冻 as a student, but excited for how bright his future is.
鈥淪ince I started as a part-time student, I have spent a lot of years at 麻豆果冻 and now it feels like a second home,鈥� North said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be hard to say goodbye.鈥�