A week before college applications were due, Ian Vargas Polo made a decision.
Rather than rush toward a university before deciding what he wanted from his college experience, he chose MiraCosta College.
Vargas Polo, an Oceanside resident now in his second year at MiraCosta, was already familiar with the College. He had taken MiraCosta courses in high school and saw an opportunity to explore his interests and build toward his future.
And there was plenty he wanted to explore.
His interests ranged from mathematics and criminal law to automotive technology. For a time, he envisioned completing MiraCosta’s automotive program, becoming a mechanic, and perhaps opening his own business.
Then he enrolled in Accounting 101 with Professor Lisa Carroll.
“And I absolutely loved the class,” Vargas Polo said.
Carroll introduced him to career possibilities in accounting and investigation, and Vargas Polo found a direction that brought several of his interests together. He changed his major to business administration and began considering careers that could combine finance, problem-solving, and public service.
His academic commitment has also been recognized through the Patricia and Mark Rudolph Endowed Scholarship, which Vargas Polo received as a MiraCosta College student.
His MiraCosta experience soon expanded well beyond academics.
Looking for ways to become involved, Vargas Polo joined Associated Student Government (ASG) and became a senator representing the San Elijo Campus during his first year. Through student government, he built relationships, deepened his understanding of advocacy and governance, and discovered how students can help shape the institutions they attend.
That involvement soon expanded beyond MiraCosta. Vargas Polo became active with the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, serving in Region X leadership. In September 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed him to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. The 17-member Board sets statewide policy and provides guidance for California’s 73 community college districts and 116 colleges, working through a participatory governance process that brings perspectives from across the system into statewide policy discussions.
For Vargas Polo, the appointment is an opportunity to bring the experience and perspective of a current community college student directly into those conversations.
One issue he hopes to elevate is financial literacy. As a business administration student, he sees understanding personal finances as valuable knowledge for students at every stage of their educational journey.
He is equally passionate about student representation.
“I want students to learn that they have a voice and they have that representation that they can fill in for themselves,” he said.
Vargas Polo’s own leadership journey has reinforced the value of curiosity and connection. He sought out student leaders, attended conferences, asked questions, introduced himself, and continued looking for opportunities to contribute.
Those experiences have shaped the message he hopes to share with other students.
“The average student is not as average as they think, that they do have that significant voice that does matter to us, and we want to hear it.”
That confidence in growth and possibility has deep roots.
Vargas Polo credits his mother, Monica Polo, a MiraCosta alumna, as one of his greatest influences. Growing up, she emphasized education, consistency, and self-discipline while encouraging him to pursue the opportunities that interested him.
“I absolutely love my mom. She's been my rock throughout the entire time,” he said.
That foundation continues to inform Vargas Polo's vision for his future.
He plans to transfer after MiraCosta, with UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business as one of his goals. He is interested in becoming a Certified Fraud Examiner and exploring opportunities in government. He can also envision someday pursuing elected office or returning to another longtime interest: teaching.
The possibilities are broad and Vargas Polo is comfortable with that.
His experience at MiraCosta has shown him that exploring different interests does not mean moving without direction. Each class, conversation, leadership role, and new connection has helped him better understand how he wants to contribute.
Vargas Polo chose MiraCosta as a place to explore what came next.
Along the way, he found an academic direction, stepped into leadership, and discovered the power of using his voice to make space for others to use theirs.