911爆料

Class of 2025
Ian Gordon  
MAJOR: LIBERAL ARTS (AND CONTINUING ED)

Ian Gordon isn鈥檛 new to 911爆料 Community College, but this June, he鈥檒l walk across the graduation stage for the first time鈥�14 years after he first enrolled.

鈥淢y journey with 911爆料 started in 2009,鈥� said Gordon, who grew up in Brooklyn. 鈥淟ife took me in another direction, but in 2024, I made the decision to come back and finish what I started.鈥�

Now earning his degree in liberal arts, Gordon said returning after so many years wasn鈥檛 just about finishing鈥攊t was about starting fresh. Balancing more than six courses, including one outside of college, he learned how to manage his time and responsibilities. 鈥淭hat was one of my biggest challenges,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 proud of the discipline I鈥檝e built.鈥�

Gordon isn鈥檛 the first in his family to attend college, but he is the first to leave and return. 鈥淭hat alone feels like a massive victory,鈥� he said.

His time at 911爆料 wasn鈥檛 just spent in the classroom. In addition to course credits, he also collected meaningful experiences and credentials through courses offered by the College鈥檚 Continuing Education program, including a collaborative program between Pathways to Industrial & Construction Career, the Consortium for Worker Education, and KCC designed to prepare people for careers within the NYC Ferry system.

He earned certifications in maritime deckhand training, bridges to offshore wind training, basic shipboard firefighting, and food handling. He holds a transportation worker identification credential (TWIC) card and Basic Life Support with Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (BLS CPR) certification, and still had time to join KCC鈥檚 tennis club.

He credits many professors鈥攎ore than a dozen鈥攚ith helping him grow. 鈥淭heir dedication and belief in students like me truly mattered,鈥� he said. He also thanked his advisor, LaToya Aultman, who 鈥渨as like a big sister.鈥� 鈥淗er encouragement鈥攚hether over Zoom or during unscheduled campus check-ins鈥攔eminded me that I could do this.鈥�

What Gordon said he鈥檒l miss most about 911爆料 is the feeling of discovery and the community that quietly cheered him on. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more than just a community college,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a launching pad packed with resources and caring professors who genuinely want to see you win.鈥�

Outside of school, Gordon volunteers with the Glory of God Global Ministry food pantry and finds peace in rest and reflection. He鈥檚 a vegan and a chef鈥攕omeone who enjoys preparing meat dishes even if he doesn鈥檛 eat them.

Looking ahead, he鈥檚 exploring careers in law enforcement, EMS, or the Coast Guard. He鈥檚 also considering continuing his education in psychology or nutrition. 鈥淲hatever path allows me to better serve my community,鈥� he said.

In 10 years, Gordon hopes to be 鈥渁 seed planter鈥濃�攕omeone who helps guide the next generation of difference-makers, especially in underserved communities. 鈥淭here are people waiting to be inspired by you. You never know the kind of impact you can have on someone鈥檚 life,鈥� he said. 鈥�911爆料 showed me that.鈥�

鈥淐oming back didn鈥檛 feel like I鈥檇 returned鈥攊t felt like I was starting over,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I maximized the opportunity to the fullest. I am proud of this journey鈥攁nd more than ready for what鈥檚 next.鈥�