Snowball Ignored Naysayer—and Became College Graduation Speaker

After failing to finish high school at , Timothy Snowball’s boss told him he’d be wasting his time going back to school, “and that I was definitely not college material.”

Wednesday night at the Main Quad of Grossmont College, La Mesa resident of associate degree winners and others and declared: “I am glad I didn’t listen to him.”

Grossmont College campus was electric with excitement as the school celebrated its .

About 415 of the 1,504 graduates ranging from 18 to 64 attended the evening ceremony with family and friends, and 93 Santeeans were among those being awarded degrees.

Commencement speakers reminded members of the 2011 class to set their goals high and that life is one big long educational adventure, because the learning process does not end with the turning of a tassel.

La Mesa’s Cindy Miles, chancellor of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, was among the first to address the crowd.

“Research shows that most of you have been working part or full time throughout your education, and that many of you have families,” Miles said. “We know this hasn’t been easy. But I promise you will not regret the efforts you have made.”

Grossmont College alumna Christina Csanadi Deckard joined  2011 graduate Snowball in reminding classmates that only through facing and overcoming adversity can one’s full potential be reached.

“When I began college in 1978 it was not uncommon for women to be disallowed to enroll in physics or engineering classes at four-year universities,”  Csanadi Deckard said. “After my first year away, for varying reasons, I returned to San Diego and enrolled at Grossmont.

“I was the only female in my physics class, and even when I transferred to San Diego State University there were only three females in the science department.”

Csanadi Deckard said that despite the challenges she faced, she faced and climbed obstacles before her. Today she works as an internationally recognized expert in laser technology.

Snowball, who will attend UC Berkley in the fall to pursue a bachelors degree in political science, said that he never thought he was someone who would come back to school.

“I was diagnosed with severe depression when I was a teenager and despite my best efforts I fell behind in many of my high school classes and did not have enough units to graduate,” he said.

Upon completion of his degree at Berkeley, Snowball said he wants to “someday get a law degree and come back to San Diego,” he said.

Grossmont Graduate Heather Circle said that with her art degree she hopes to begin working in a museum. 

“Grossmont has been a great experience,” Circle said. “I studied art with an emphasis in art history, and I’m excited to begin using what I learned while I was here.”

Csanadi Deckard reminded students that the future is paved with opportunities.

“The road ahead is completely open,” she said.  “And I know you’re going to make the world a better place.”