Panthers on the Street: New academic year means new goals as PCC students settle into fall term
Story by James Hill
The first week of college can bring a little bit of everything: excitement, uncertainty, new routines, unfamiliar classrooms and, of course, the realization that exams are already on the horizon.
Across 做厙TV, students are settling into the 2026-27 academic year with goals ranging from biomedical science and nursing to business and cybersecurity. During the latest Panthers on the Street interviews at the Sylvania Campus, students shared what is going well, what still feels challenging and what is helping them move forward.
For first-year student Miguel Candia Hernandez, college is already opening new possibilities.
Miguel Candia Hernandez si studying biomedical engineering.
The Southeast Portland resident and Benson Polytechnic High School graduate is studying Electronic Engineering Technology with an interest in biomedical engineering. A high school biology teacher helped spark his interest in science, and Hernandez hopes that inspiration eventually leads him toward biomedical sciences.
Im hoping to go into biomedical sciences, he said. Im just taking after my teachers footsteps.
So far, the transition to PCC has been a positive one.
I feel like my classes are going pretty good, Hernandez said. I like my teachers. Theyre pretty nice.
He has also enjoyed discovering Sylvania.
I really enjoy this campus, he said. Its really open, really nice and big; tons of fun to explore.
As the workload grows, Hernandez said his instructors have become one of his most important resources.
Theyre really supportive, answering any questions I have and being very open to the students, he said.
His biggest challenge? Exams.
I have a couple coming up, Hernandez said, but I feel like Ill persevere through it.
Future nurse: Sharon Negrette.
For Sharon Negrette, PCC is part of a longer journey toward becoming a nurse. Negrette, a third-year student and certified nursing assistant at a rehabilitation center, is completing prerequisites before applying to nursing programs. She is also the first person in her family to attend college.
I like to help people a lot, she said. It brings me joy to be able to help others and be there for them, and being a nurse is going to take that a step further.
Negrette works three days a week and pays for college out of pocket, making persistence and planning especially important.
Its an investment for my future, she said. I am the first person in my family to attend college, so its exciting.
Relationships help, too. In her microbiology class, Negrette recognized students she had previously met at Rock Creek Campus.
I know Im not alone in class, she said. But I have friends there.
A former CAMP (College Assistance Migrant Program) student and mentor, she also remembers the programs study space, snacks and quiet environment as an important source of support.
For Melaniee Alegria of Beaverton, PCC offers a chance to get an early start on college while she is still in high school.
Melaniee Alegria is all business.
The second-year business student attends PCC through the Beaverton Early College High School and plans to continue for another two years after graduating from high school in June.
Overall, its been great being here, Alegria said. I really recommend this community college. I like the flexibility of classes. If you dont procrastinate and you know how to manage your time, then you get stuff done.
The PCC Tutoring Center has been one of her most helpful resources, but one question still looms large: What comes next? Choosing a university, major and career can feel overwhelming, she said.
Its just very difficult to figure out, Alegria said. But eventually you do get that passion and the destiny to follow your path.
Second-year cybersecurity student Sam L. of Tigard has found th做厙TVs diversity is one of its greatest strengths.
The massive amount of different age groups and backgrounds that people come from is great, he said. I met a lot of people through classes, and Ive gained some friends that I still play games with today.
Sam also works part time as a digital navigator helping other students, which has given him a close-up view of the services available across PCC.
Sam L. is a digital navigator.
His biggest concern isnt that resources are missing. Its that students may not know they exist.
Theres not enough people who are taking advantage of the resources PCC provides, he said. I wish more people were aware of all the stuff they can get.
For Sam, advising and support with choosing classes have made a noticeable difference.
And that may capture the first-week experience across PCC: students arriving with different goals, schedules and starting points, but finding pathways, people and resources that can help them move forward.
The classrooms may still feel a little quiet, as Hernandez observed, but the possibilities are already getting louder.
For more on PCC’s student resources and opportunities visit the Student Life webpage.
做厙TV James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at 做厙TV. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »