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Finding Belonging, Building a Future: Moises Cruz-Cortez鈥檚 Journey at Sandhills Community College

On a clear November afternoon outside Little Hall, business administration student Moises Cruz-Cortez reflected on a journey he never expected would lead him to Sandhills Community College (SCC). Before arriving at Sandhills, he had tried other schools while working toward his high school equivalency diploma, but nothing seemed to fit. After several setbacks, he decided to try once more and looked for a different path. That search brought him to SCC.

鈥淚鈥檓 gonna give it a shot, see what happens,鈥� he remembered.

What happened next changed everything.

From the moment he stepped onto campus, Moises felt something he hadn鈥檛 experienced in his earlier attempts at school: a genuine sense of welcome. 鈥淭he way the staff made me feel welcome just made me feel comfortable, like I wanted to come to school every day,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 always been like that.鈥�

That feeling of belonging is central to the Sandhills experience. The College鈥檚 commitment to 鈥淟earn. Engage. Belong.鈥� resonates deeply with students whose journeys take many forms. Moises is one of them鈥攁 first-generation college student, a husband and a father of two young children who serve as his biggest motivation.

鈥淭hey were my motivation,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n the future, I want to give the example to my children. At least they鈥檒l see that I鈥檓 making this happen. I鈥檓 first generation in the family, and hopefully they鈥檒l be the next.鈥�

I feel comfortable enough to reach out to any of my teachers and ask them a question without hesitating.

As he worked through high school equivalency diploma and continued into business administration, Moises found support at every turn. When asked which faculty or staff members stood out, he didn鈥檛 hesitate. 鈥淓very single one of them,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel comfortable enough to reach out to any of my teachers and ask them a question without hesitating.鈥�

Now preparing for graduation, Moises plans to continue into a four-year program to expand his knowledge of business. He鈥檚 intentionally staying open to future opportunities. 鈥淲hatever opportunity finds me, I鈥檒l think about it, process it and if it鈥檚 for me, it鈥檚 for me.鈥�

Moises鈥� story reflects what so many Sandhills students discover鈥攁 place where encouragement is real, support is consistent and belonging is felt. His journey continues, and in sharing it, he offers a powerful example to his children, his community and to every student who鈥檚 looking for the right place to start again.

 

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