Before walking through the doors of MiraCosta College, the thought of unconditional support was not that common for Solomon Dinning. Having grown up in foster care from the age of nine, Solomon and his peers often found that care and concern typically came with conditions – you had to be known to be loved.
But at MiraCosta College, something different happened. Something transformative.
“They loved and supported me even when they didn't know who I was,” Solomon reflected on his first experience with the college's support systems.
“As a child in the foster system, you develop this mentality that if folks don't know you, they don't really help you or care about you. So when I got to MiraCosta, it was pretty shocking that all of these people cared for me, supported me, and showed love to me when they didn't even know me.”
That love would sustain Solomon through two years of academic excellence, earning scholarships through the RAFFY program and ultimately transferring to San Diego State University to continue his bachelor's degree in business administration.
Solomon's path to MiraCosta began not with academic ambition, but with workplace encouragement.
After a year working in custodial services for the City of Carlsbad, Solomon’s supervisor took him aside and shared that they saw great potential in him. They asked Solomon where he saw himself in five years and spoke about how higher education could help fast-track his ambitions. With only a high school diploma and no college experience, Solomon decided to take the leap. And what he discovered at MiraCosta College went far beyond classroom learning. Solomon found a family.
“It was incredible from day one,” Solomon shared. “Even before I stepped foot onto campus, they had this support system. It made me feel like I was starting college with a whole army behind me.”
In addition to the individual support his counselors and professors offered, Solomon took advantage of the many resources on campus. The EOPS (Extended Opportunity Programs and Services) Program connected Solomon with academic counseling, while the RAFFY Program, an initiative aimed at supporting former foster youth, provided both financial support through scholarships and a sense of belonging for Solomon and his peers in the program.
“I think one of the key things for success is surrounding yourself with good support systems,” Solomon noted. “Not only did I have the folks at MiraCosta College rooting for me and supporting me, but I had the folks at the City of Carlsbad rooting and supporting me.”
What’s more, the RAFFY Program's impact extended beyond academic support into genuine family experiences. Solomon's most treasured memories center around the program's Thanksgiving dinners.
“As a foster child, holidays like Thanksgiving aren’t always the best,” Solomon shared, his voice carrying the weight of years spent without traditional family holidays. “You never know what someone might be dealing with on a holiday. But finally, thanks to the MiraCosta College RAFFY Program, I had something to look forward to during Thanksgiving.”
These gatherings became anchoring moments in Solomon's college experience. "Sitting there having some turkey and cranberries with them—that was a highlight that kept me going, kept me chugging into the next semester," he said.
The family atmosphere at MiraCosta created an environment where Solomon could thrive academically. Starting as an environmental science major before switching to business administration, he maintained a 4.0 GPA through most of his coursework. Even when calculus proved challenging, the support system remained strong.
From the academic guidance he received through EOPS to the RAFFY program's scholarships, Solomon credits MiraCosta College with transforming his life, as well as his family’s life.
“I'm the one that's basically stopping the cycle here for generations of my family members,” Solomon explained, speaking about his daughter's future education. “My daughter is brilliant and smart. She's going to college, and I'm so proud that I will be the one funding her college. I had to learn how to navigate higher education on my own but now thanks to MiraCosta College I know exactly what to do with my child. I know how to guide her to the right spot and get her into college."
As Solomon prepares to start his junior year at San Diego State University, his goals remain grounded in service and family. Working toward becoming a leader within the City of Carlsbad, he envisions a career that allows him to build generational wealth while serving his community.
“I give it all to MiraCosta College,” Solomon shared. "They took a foster kid that grew up in foster homes, that's from the ghetto, that at one time spent time on the street, and they helped complete a total transformation.”
Continued Solomon, “MiraCosta College set a glow in me, and they can never put that glow out now.”