No one succeeds alone. Of the many lessons El Camino College graduate Aaron Batiste has learned throughout his journey in higher education, that one may be the most important. The Inglewood native had a rough start in college, marked by poor grades and low motivation. But with help from role models and support from El Camino College's Project Success, he became a straight-A student after transferring to Harris-Stowe State University in Missouri. In addition, he finished a term on a White House advisory committee.
"Definitely my most notable achievement while at Harris-Stowe was to serve as an 'HBCU All Star' with the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities," Batiste said. "It was an honor and an amazing eye-opening experience to be able to sit at the table where I haven't been before."
Batiste recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in educational studies and is now pursuing a master's degree at the University of Mississippi in higher education/student personnel in preparation for a career in educational administration.
After graduating from Westchester High School, his parents suggested he enroll in El Camino College. That first semester was tough; Batiste finished with a 1.8 GPA. He said didn't care much for high school and was clearly not focused on making the transition into college. Soon, he joined ECC's Project Success, a program designed to increase students' retention rates and improve their academic performance. It proved to be a life-changing decision.
"It was El Camino College and Project Success events that really helped me get out there and see the bigger picture," Batiste said. "One thing I remember as if it was yesterday. I was at a Project Success event in a room full of black males – all with Ph.D.s. Amazing. That alone showed me that if they can do it, I can do it. That changed everything for me. I think if it wasn't for Project Success, I probably would have given up after that first year. The life lessons I learned through Project Success – they stuck with me."
Batiste said he made a lot of mistakes at El Camino College and learned from them. But he always had backup.
"If I didn't have the support system at Project Success, I would not be where I am today," he said. "Even at my lowest of lows, they were there for me. They still are. I have learned that I can do anything with a diverse skill set. I tell anyone and everyone – El Camino College prepares you for everything. When you leave that campus, you are more than equipped to handle any course, anywhere. Period. You will have no worries academically. You are ready for anything."