Following his graduation from San Ramon Valley High School in June of 2022, Humza Madinawala found himself at a crossroads. Though accepted into several four-year institutions, he hesitated, unsure of his desired major.
“I wasn’t sure about what major I wanted to study, so I decided it would be better to explore my interests further at a community college. And the cost of attending DVC was much cheaper
than other colleges, plus the free tuition program gave me the certainty that I could take college-level courses without breaking the bank.”
Humza also appreciated the proximity of the San Ramon Campus to where he lived, enabling him to pursue higher education while still living at home. And the ability to transfer, with the assistance from DVC, proved invaluable when he finally determined his major.
“DVC’s high transfer rate of students to UCs and CSUs compared to other community colleges assured me of the academic support I would receive during my time at DVC.”
During his exploration of majors, Humza became passionate about studying economics, and the social science aspect of economics with its application to people, businesses, government, and society. And his fascination with economics grew once he realized it contained aspects of multiple subjects he was interested in, such as psychology, politics, and history.
“I chose economics because I find it intriguing how money moves in society and how people make decisions based on the economy, income, and the price of a good or service.”
But completing his studies hasn’t always been easy. Humza has faced health issues that have impeded his academic journey multiple times. Each time, however, he always found support from DVC faculty and staff members.
“My professors were very understanding. I remember when Professor Lynn Huang, my Critical Thinking class instructor, helped me when I was forced to get an incomplete grade due to my health issues. She was very accommodating, assisting me in creating a course completion plan, addressing assignment questions, and offering helpful resources for completing tasks.”
“And other services, like the Disability Support Services (DSS) office, provided me with accommodations that helped me get back on track with my schoolwork and stay on track.”
“All the professors, faculty, and staff members want you to succeed, no matter what your goal is as a student. There are also many different student services here that have helped me and thousands of other students succeed in college.”
DVC’s flexible class offerings also helped Humza stay the course and continue his studies, despite his health challenges. “I liked how I could choose whether to take fully online, hybrid, or in-person classes. I ended up taking hybrid for most of my economics courses as it fit my schedule best.”
What else does Humza value most about his DVC experience? He said he appreciated when some of his courses provided free textbooks, which greatly helped in cutting down the cost of college even more for him.
Humza currently works as a DVC Student Ambassador, primarily on the San Ramon Campus and is most proud of helping to start the Naloxone Training and Distribution Program at DVC.
“It started off as a group project in COMM-130 and has led to more than 200 students and faculty trained in using Naloxone and the program is now in place in at least one other community college in the district.”
What lies ahead for this accomplished student? Humza anticipates transferring to a UC school at the end of Spring 2024. He’s most interested in learning about the economics of the music and healthcare industries and perhaps working with companies that specialize in either industry. Additionally, he’s intrigued by the prospect of exploring careers in the government sector.
When asked what he wished other students knew about DVC, Humza noted the wealth of support you receive at DVC.
To learn more about the economics program visit: www.dvc.edu/economics
