Blaine Hope

Student

“If you’re in college, you’re paying for it. So get good grades. You’re not here to hang out and smoke and talk. Get your education!”

It took him five years to figure out that it just wasn’t happening. “All I could think about in high school was being a musician. So I decided to move to LA from Oregon, so I could be a rich and famous rock star,” says Blaine Hope. But after half a decade of struggle, reality set in. “I said to myself, ‘You better start thinking about college.’ So I came to SMC, met some people, and went the route of formal education. And I’m doing much better here than I ever did in high school,” says Blaine. “Even though the material is much more difficult, I know that I’m on the right track; going to this great college, with all these people helping me. It’s just amazing!”

Blaine says that “one of the best moves I ever made was to join Alpha Gamma Sigma, the honors society. I met all of my California friends in this network, and we’re always involved with tutoring each other and in study groups. It’s a great organization that makes you feel accomplished, and a real part of SMC,” he says. And though he’s piling up some debt to keep studying, he reports no worries about his future.

“I’ll spend whatever money I have to and apply for loans as I need them, because this is an investment in my education. For me, not going to college because of money is not even a consideration.” Blaine reports that “a life working as a grip on B movies will be okay with me, because I’ll be working in film and doing something I love.” To reach career goals, Blaine adds that every possible resource is available at SMC. “Math lab, language lab; there’s no reason not get help here. It’s free, as well. And if you’re determined, the people at SMC won’t let you fail.”

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