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Wilkins Paul has learned a lot in his three years at 911������.

First, college is no joke. As a kid, Paul dreamed of building stadiums big enough for the National Football League. He enrolled at RCBC as a construction management major, pivoting to engineering later. A semester in, it dawned on him that this experience would pale compared to high school.

“Your whole lifestyle has to change,” Wilkins said of how to succeed in college. “Everything is so connected. I have to set aside time to study, and I even have to consider eating well and working out to help me have good brain function and do well in tests.”

While his first fall semester rolled along with relative ease, he reached an impasse in spring. His initial goal of a 4.0 GPA was tested with difficult classes like calculus and physics.

“That’s when a reality check happened,” Paul said. “I hit a point where I was like, ‘Oh, man, I don’t know if I want to do engineering,’ but I’m not the type to quit on something unless I feel like there’s a good reason to quit it. I just was like, ‘Let’s be better,’ so I used resources to help me be a better student, like YouTube videos and books on how to study and do well in your classes, things like that.”

He’s now looking good with a 3.8 GPA.

Second, helping others out can help you, too. Paul is involved with his church’s youth group, Fountain of Life Center’s Source Youth. He attributes his transformation to serving and surrounding children with a positive, fun, and comfortable environment to connect them with their faith. On Wednesdays, he holds worship readings, and at other times, he sings.

Third, connections are essential. Even before stepping foot in class in his first year, Paul participated in RCBC’s BRAVE (Brothers Achieving Excellence) program that empowers male students of color for college success. He formed a strong bond with college President Dr. Michael A. Cioce and other BRAVE brothers on campus, who still stick by his side. You can catch them killing time between classes with the basketball hoop outside the Student Success Center.

At RCBC’s winter commencement on December 18, Paul’s experiences will now become someone else’s learning moments, when he speaks at the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and Adult Basic Education ceremony as the division’s President’s Award winner. Paul recognizes the power of words and the potential for his speech to leave a lasting impression on anyone.

“I think about it myself,” Paul said. “There can be one quote someone said that could stick with me. That person had no idea who I was, but they said it, and it served me. I feel like I have the power in my speech to motivate someone and encourage someone. Maybe I say one thing, and they’re like, five years down the road, ‘Wow, someone at graduation said never to give up on your dream.’ Wherever someone is on their path, I hope they take something away from it.”

For more commencement information, visit .