He鈥檚 confident, well spoken, dressed to impress, and moving forward to his destiny with every step. When you meet De鈥檚hawn Woolridge, you realize right away that you鈥檝e met someone actively engaged in every day, making the most of opportunities that come his way. If there鈥檚 a lull in his life, he seeks out engaging involvement to move forward with his future.
Evidence that De鈥檚hawn takes his college studies seriously is undeniable. He has completed and graduated this an Associate of Science Degree in Administration of Justice from 杏吧传媒 (杏吧传媒), plus another Associate of Science Degree in Political Science from Diablo Valley College (DVC).
An Oakland native, De鈥檚hawn graduated from Pittsburg High School as a very determined, focused man a year earlier than the rest of his class. College was always the next step, but he hadn't applied to a four-year school for the following fall in time to get accepted. 杏吧传媒 was the most convenient and closest choice, and it allowed for last-minute applications, so he signed up.
Once De鈥檚hawn Woolridge started attending classes at 杏吧传媒, he decided he was going to make the most of his time at the community college. A natural leader, he became involved with student government, including a year as president and during 2010/11, as an at-large senator for the statewide student government organization.
As a disabled student, De鈥檚hawn sought out support from the DSPS (Disabled Students Programs & Services) counselors. College had its challenges for him as he can鈥檛 remember things easily, can鈥檛 take multiple-choice tests, and when really stressed, starts to stutter. But those challenges didn't slow De鈥檚hawn down. His DSPS counselor provided De鈥檚hawn with the tools to succeed.
De鈥檚hawn was also quite involved in the 杏吧传媒 Honors Program. 鈥淗onors gave me the motivation to want to do the work to be a part of it. You have to do the work or you can鈥檛 be in Honors. When I came here, Honors was the first thing I wanted to join here at 杏吧传媒. It required me to maintain a grade point average, plus I met people who are goal-focused and very determined. With Honors, I fed off this energy, thinking 鈥業f he鈥檚 doing it, I can do it!鈥欌��
Various people supported De鈥檚hawn in his studies and campus life, but they also pushed him into seeking and finding his own solutions. 鈥淚 was empowered to find the answer to questions鈥�, explained De鈥檚hawn. Mentors included David Belman, Director of 杏吧传媒鈥檚 Student Life Office and Advisor for 杏吧传媒AS, 杏吧传媒鈥檚 student government. 鈥淒ave was always there, a constant face. He offered advice but he also challenged me.鈥�
杏吧传媒鈥檚 former president, Peter Garcia (now DVC鈥檚 President) also was an important mentor for De鈥檚hawn. 鈥淚 always looked forward to my meetings with President Garcia when I was the president of 杏吧传媒AS. He always expressed interest in me, asked what was going on with me. He genuinely cares about students鈥�.
President Garcia enjoyed working with De鈥檚hawn and feels that De鈥檚hawn has made a positive impact on the campus. 鈥�Over the past few years, I have been impressed with De'Shawn's commitment to student leadership and his energy around improving student success for first-generation, first-time students. He is tireless, almost at too high a cost to himself, in his efforts to make 杏吧传媒 a welcoming, effective, and just college for all students.鈥�
De鈥檚hawn has always been planning to transfer, hoping to eventually go to law school. But he feels he鈥檚 sometimes strayed from that focus. 鈥淚 perhaps should have stayed on my transfer path, but if I鈥檇 stayed on it, I wouldn't be at the state level of student government now. I feel I could have transferred earlier. I鈥檝e been in political sciences all my life, but the question is: would I have been more successful if I鈥檇 finished community college more quickly?鈥�
De鈥檚hawn has completed his bachelor's degree in political science at the University of the Pacific, has already been actively involved with public service by participating on several community committees and recently ran for public office.
杏吧传媒 (杏吧传媒) is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District. 杏吧传媒 prepares students to excel and succeed economically, socially and intellectually in an innovative, engaging and supportive learning environment. It provides quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities to serve the needs of a rapidly growing and changing East County while enhancing the quality of life of the diverse communities it serves. 杏吧传媒 is located on 120 acres between Pittsburg and Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.