Before Ricardo Sanchez became a published author, before he took on four leadership roles at MiraCosta College, and before he was personally brought on stage to speak at the 2025 Graduation Ceremony, he was a man trying to find a new future amid a difficult past.

In fact, Ricardo jokes that his origin story began with the promise of a free laptop.

Fresh in sobriety and living at a sober facility, Ricardo had no high school diploma, no clear direction, and no intention of returning to school.

"To be honest, I saw a promotion about a free laptop,” Ricardo shared while looking back on how it all began. “I was just going to enroll, get the laptop, and drop out. That was going to be the extent of my college experience.”

What happened instead would transform his life completely, reconnect him with family he hadn't seen in over a decade, and set him on a path toward community leadership and advocacy.

Years ago, another local community college was offering a free laptop as an incentive to incoming students. However, Ricardo found it challenging to enroll given his background and soon became dismayed by the process. He nearly gave up entirely until a friend mentioned the team at the MiraCosta College Transitions Program, a program focused on helping students impacted by the justice system.

After first connecting with the staff on campus, Ashley Gerdo and the Transitions Program team wouldn’t take no for an answer. They saw promise in Ricardo, and for two weeks, they persistently reached out and encouraged him to enroll before the add/drop deadline.

Finally, Ricardo decided to take a chance.

Initially, his early days at MiraCosta College were full of caution. After years of battling addiction and housing insecurity, Ricardo grew to become skeptical of anyone who wanted to help. For him, there always had to be another motive. Even when people would complement Ricardo’s work ethic and classroom success, he didn’t want to believe it.

Then, one day during Dr. Edward Pohlert’s class, everything shifted. Despite Ricardo's initial resistance and deeply ingrained mistrust, Dr. Pohlert saw potential where others might have seen problems.

Explained Ricardo, "Coming from homelessness, I've learned not to trust anybody. But when Dr. Pohlert took the time to get to know me and ask me about my story, it began a transformation that would change everything.”

Since he was just a toddler, Ricardo's background had been marked by profound trauma. As early as five years old, he experienced physical abuse in school and at home, including being locked in closets by principals and beaten by guardians. By first
grade, he had decided he never wanted to return to school or home, eventually dropping out entirely while struggling with homelessness and addiction.

For many, this would be the end. But Ricardo was destined for a bigger purpose. Through Dr. Puller's mentorship, Ricardo began to see possibilities he had never imagined.

Said Ricardo, “MiraCosta College showed me I could be someone better. It showed me I never had to go back to what I was. I may have never got my laptop, but I gained something better. I gained a mentor.”

Three years later, Ricardo flipped his entire life script on its side. He worked hard to receive A's and B's and soon began to view school as a luxury and not a burden. Whereas school was the last thing on his mind as a child and teenager, it has now became his passion.

Ricardo also became deeply involved in campus life, holding four different positions: student ambassador, tutor, garden mentor for the Roots of Justice Program, and a Student Promotore for the Hispanic Serving Institution initiative.

"I tell people that I came here to hide, and instead I ended up discovering myself," Ricardo said with pride.

His academic success culminated in being selected as a commencement speaker at the MiraCosta College 2025 Graduation Ceremony, one of the greatest honors of his life. And in the crowd that day was someone very close to Ricardo’s heart. After finishing the speech, a special family member approached Ricardo to congratulate him on his achievements. After 12 years of separation, Ricardo’s daughter wrapped her arms around her dad, and they both broke down in tears.

“That is the best memory of my life so far,” recalled Ricardo.

Through education, Sanchez has not only transformed his own life but has begun healing relationships with his family. His success has even inspired his mother to consider pursuing her own GED after seeing other older students at Ricardo’s graduation.

Currently pursuing political science with hopes of transferring to a California university next year, Sanchez aims to work in community advocacy to help other young men and women struggling with addiction, homelessness, and other challenges that he faced in his life.

"I want to see that homeless population, and those young youth at risk, understand that community college is a place to better yourself," he explained. "You don't have to rely on being on the corner or on the bottle. You can make friends, and you can trust people."

For someone who once sought only to hide, Ricardo now embraces vulnerability and challenge as tools for growth. When asked about his resilience, Ricardo is quick to point to his willingness to feel uncomfortable while knowing he can manage it.

“Education is my new addiction,” he declared. “I just want to keep learning. This is the best life that I've ever had, and I would never trade this for anything.”