Student Spotlight: Jahanzaib Anwar
For El Camino graduate Jahanzaib Anwar, completing his education and sharing his journey are closely connected. So, when he had the chance to enter a contest where teams of formerly incarcerated students were asked to communicate what it means to reintegrate into society, he knew he had something to say.
Like many students on the team from El Camino’s Formerly Incarcerated Re-Entry Students Thriving (FIRST) Program, Anwar had little experience creating presentations and addressing an audience. But the students spoke from the heart and shared their truth through a well-organized and creative public service announcement, also known as a PSA. Featuring a PowerPoint and in-person testimonials, their project was a great success, receiving accolades from judges and their peers. The team brought home the first-place prize, along with a sense of pride in their work and a $1,000 award for the FIRST Program.
“It felt great to share my story because I realized that our program and our people need to be heard,” said Anwar. “Even though I’m not used to it, I’m comfortable telling my story because I believe it might help others go to college even if they think they don’t have a chance.”
Now a student at California State University, Long Beach majoring in health care administration, Anwar continues his connection with El Camino’s FIRST program by working in the office part time. He started at El Camino in 2011, then enrolled again in 2022 after a period of incarceration. Back on campus, Anwar saw a flier for the FIRST Program and soon found the assistance he needed to complete his degree.
“Coming back to school, didn’t know what it would be like; I needed someone to help me,” he said. “I knew what I wanted to do but I didn’t know how. I would not have been able to transfer to Long Beach without the help of people in FIRST.”
Anwar described this journey in the PSA he helped created for the Rising Scholars PSA Challenge, part of the annual Project Rebound symposium at California State University, Los Angeles. The event is specifically designed for community college students who have had a carceral experience, and the challenge asked students about redefining what it means to reintegrate into society with purpose and support.
“Many people who join this program don’t know anything about higher education in general and don’t think college is something they can do,” he said. “Well, they can. And here at El Camino, they will be guided all the way.”