MCC Sets Up Business Student for Financial and Academic Success

From Tegucigalpa, Honduras and now living in Lowell, Luis Raul Raudales was led to Middlesex Community College through the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (Gear Up) with Lowell High School (LHS) in his sophomore year. Designed to help first generation college students make the transition to college, Raudales realized the benefits of starting at a community college.

“As an international student, the financial aid options of other colleges weren’t too promising,” he said. “This path provided me with an affordable way to continue my educational journey and start my college experience having to only worry about academics.”

Through Gear Up, Raudales went on college tours and received help signing up for the SATs, filling out the Common Application, and applying for financial aid. Now at Middlesex, Raudales plans to study Business in order to help his uncle run his coffee company, Café Solar in Lowell. He will continue to study Business Administration and Political Science or Government at a four-year institution.

“Gear Up greatly helped prepare me for moving to college,” he said. “They showed me how the college application process worked and what I had to do. I decided studying Business would best prepare me for this goal.”

Another benefit of Middlesex for Raudales has been the flexibility of choosing classes to make his own schedule. He can complete work on his own time, take on more responsibility, and become an independent learner. In gaining a better understanding of his working style, the skills he is building are preparing him to be successful in his next steps.

This includes diving deeper into the Business fields with classes on economics, mathematics and accounting. Each class offers an overview of a variety of topics, in addition to allowing him to complete his general education requirements. In his classes, he often works with the same classmates and faculty members, and enjoys building connections with familiar faces.

“This makes it possible to meet other people in your program, and make possible friends who will be able to help you in these classes,” he said. “I have quite enjoyed all my classes and have had good interactions with all of my professors.”

Raudales continues to be an active member of the community at Middlesex. He is involved in several clubs on campus, including Latinos Unidos and the Sustainability, Running and Philosophy clubs. He has also attended MCC run events, such as a Visiting Writers Series with a local author, bingo night and salsa lessons.

“I find joining these clubs and going to these activities to be good ways to get to know the campus community better and to meet new people who attend Middlesex,” Raudales said. “They help foster a sense of community and I think they expose the people – from students and faculty to the staff – to different experiences and opportunities they may not have.”