Ivan joined College Access Now (CAN) (now College Possible Washington) in 2012 as a student at Garfield High School. He attended the University of Washington and graduated with an engineering degree. Ivan was a board member with CAN/College Possible Washington for two years, contributing his invaluable experience as a student and community member. Ivan now works at the Boeing Company as a mechanical engineer and lives in the area with his family. We caught up with Ivan to reflect on his experience as a student turned board member and community supporter.
High school and college attended: Garfield High School and University of Washington
Joined CAN: 2012
Years served with CAN/College Possible Washington Board: 2017-2019
Current occupation and title: Mechanical engineer at the Boeing Company
What first attracted you to participate as a student with College Access Now?
While the program was new to me, I had several friends involved with CAN, which made it seem less of an unknown. As a student I enjoyed my conversations with like-minded peers, the many resources available (SAT prep, college app prep, etc.), and the community within the program. While envisioning a future in college seemed daunting, I never felt alone in the process.
There are a lot of barriers to college degree attainment. What were some of the challenges you were most interested in addressing with your coach?
My main challenge was identifying how I could afford college. During this time, I was an HB1079 student. This meant I did not qualify for federal aid (FAFSA) so my only way to afford college was through private scholarships. Together with my coaches, we searched for and applied to as many scholarships as possible. I applied to over 1000 scholarships in my senior year alone. We also identified other options, such as starting at a community college and then transitioning to a university after completing an AA degree.
What was a memorable moment you had with one of your coaches?
Receiving my first acceptance letter from the University of Washington. It was my first choice school and it made the experience rewarding sharing it with them.
How did your experience with CAN shape your college trajectory?
CAN showed me that college was attainable for anyone. If you were willing to put in the effort, the resources, scholarships, and mentorship were there to succeed. It provided me with a recipe for success. The practices that I developed through CAN of academic excellence, scholarship hunting, and goal setting set me up to thrive at college. It was just rinse and repeat from what I already had done in high school.
You decided to return to CAN as a board member—what was your driving force and what was that experience like?
I had just finished my undergraduate degree when the opportunity came to join CAN as a board member. I wanted to pay it forward and help others like myself. I saw it as a way of giving back. Joining the board was rewarding and a learning experience for sure! There were a lot of things that happened in the background that I didn’t even think about to keep CAN operating.
Did anything in your experience with CAN either as a student and/or board member surprise you? Why?
Yes. I was surprised at all of the behind-the-scenes actions that needed to happen to keep CAN up and running. As a student, I only interacted with the coaches (CAN’s frontlines so to speak). As a board member, I witnessed everything else that needed to happen for CAN to continue its mission. Everything from finances to supporting CAN’s coaches.
Being in the space you are in now, what would you say to high school students who are just beginning their experience with us?
You’ll never walk alone.
As we continue to serve more students and invite more education champions to our work, why do you believe they should support College Possible Washington?
College Possible does not let students slip through the cracks. The organization continues to support and motivate students who don’t see a path to college. Those who have had constant barriers in their life. College Possible shows them anything is possible.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers about your experiences with our organization?
My experiences with CAN were truly rewarding and my story is one of many. Contributions to College Possible do make a difference. I consider myself proof.
If you’re interested in sharing your story as a previous CAN/College Possible Washington student, and want to inspire future generations, please reach out to wainfo@collegepossible.org.
