Tomas Madrigal

Student

“If any students want to learn about the campus, they should hook up with me. I’ll be glad to show them around.”

If success truly consists of “one part inspiration, nine parts perspiration,” the future of Tomas Madrigal will be a bright one. He’s been going part-time to SMC since 1987 while working nearly full-time to pay his way. But aside from work, he deals daily with learning and physical disabilities that have kept him off the fast-track on his way to an AA in computer information systems.

“I’ve got a learning disability that slows down my ability to remember,” says Tomas. “So my teachers give me a little longer on my tests.” And because of arthritis, Tomas is connected with the LRC Disabilities program. “So I go over to the High Tech Center and use their computers to do my homework,” he says. But “difficulties” haven’t stopped Tomas from shining at SMC.

“I’m the chief editor of the CLUE newsletter,” he says. “And I’m really involved in promoting higher education. I just wrote a letter about CLUE to a magazine,” he continues. “And it’s going to be published in June.” Tomas also recently got a scholarship from the Latino Center and feels that civic involvement with clubs is a very positive thing. “I love being part of leadership conferences and clubs,” he says. “It not only helps you a lot when you’re ready to transfer, but it also makes me feel that I’m developing myself as much as I can.”

“I plan to be a computer operator,” says Tomas. “And hopefully I will teach classes to disabled people, or just people in general, who want to know about computers. Teaching and computers are definitely a big part of my future,” he adds. “And one thing is certain: I’m going to be a very, very serious computer guy.”

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