Every day, Adam Byzak walks under the MiraCosta College clock tower on his way to his communications class. For most of his peers, it’s merely another landmark that dots the beautiful campus. For Adam, it carries special meaning.

That same clock tower is where his parents, Aaron and Amanda, exchanged their wedding vows 20 years ago. And it’s just one of many ways MiraCosta College has been woven into the fabric of his family's life.

“For our family, MiraCosta College isn't just a school,” shared dad Aaron Byzak. “It's where my wife and I met, earned our degrees, and married. It’s where our son first started learning at the campus Child Development Center. And now it’s where Adam is beginning his own higher education journey.”

This year, Adam is following in his parents' footsteps by attending MiraCosta College. But while the school may be the same, Adam is determined to chart his own course, one shaped by an entrepreneurial spirit that emerged long before he enrolled in college.

In fact, Adam had a knack for building businesses as early as nine years old. As a child, he learned the inner workings of locks and got so good at picking locks that the local neighbors would call Adam anytime they were in a bind. He became so busy picking locks in his free time that he made business cards and earned a steady income.

“One day I realized that I was helping one of my neighbors so frequently that I was earning the same amount of money from him each week,” Adam recalled with a laugh. “I was basically drawing a salary.”

Needless to say, it was a far cry from the classic lemonade stand cliché. And this first foray into entrepreneurship has only deepened Adam’s passion for business. Now pursuing an associate degree in business, Adam is exploring various interests at MiraCosta College. He also draws on his father’s experience as a business owner himself to find what area holds the key to Adam’s next endeavor.

When asked why MiraCosta College, Adam is quick to point out the environment and resources on campus. As a student who is legally blind, Adam knows firsthand that not every school is intentionally built with all students’ needs in mind. Back in high school, while participating in the Compass Program through the Perkins School for the Blind, Adam led an initiative to assess the disabled student services at different colleges.

While it may not come as a surprise to many, MiraCosta College came out on top. As Adam noted, “At a lot of schools, everyone is bought into being inclusive and open, but that doesn't always trickle down to the people answering phones and running departments. It does at MiraCosta College."

The environment and community support on campus is also why Adam’s parents hold MiraCosta College in such high esteem.

When Aaron and Amanda arrived at MiraCosta College two decades ago, neither fit the traditional student mold. Both came from fractured home environments with limited academic preparation.

Explained Aaron, “We were both getting our act together and MiraCosta College opened up all the opportunities for us to do that.”

Yet it didn’t take long for the two to thrive. Just a few years after enrolling, both Aaron and Amanda were on the path toward successful careers. And now they get to relive their journey through the eyes of Adam, who is able to draw on his father’s accomplishments and expertise as a business owner.

Throughout his career, Aaron has trained thousands in career development and his offered one key piece of advice to Adam before starting classes. Said Aaron, “I've reminded him that community college is about more than academics," Aaron says. "It's about embracing the experience, making connections, and exploring different perspectives.”

Adam is excited for the next phases of his higher education journey but doesn’t want to rush any career decision just yet. He is leading with patience and intentionality these next couple years at MiraCosta College before he has to decide what’s next.

One thing is certain though – it will likely include another business and another success story. That’s the beauty of the Byzak family and what MiraCosta College can do.