Inver Hills Class of 2025 Commencement student speaker at TCO Stadium

James Sanchez, 20, is earning his Associate of Arts (A.A.) at Inver Hills Community College. James is on schedule to graduate from Inver Hills this summer with plans to transfer to a four-year school—Concordia University, St. Paul, or more likely Augsburg University—to earn a bachelor’s degree in English.

“English was the only choice that made sense to me because of how enamored of it I have been throughout my life,” he said. “Creative writing has been my lifeblood since I was four years old and remains as such to this day. On top of that, English is a versatile subject that can be used to springboard into a myriad of different careers. I’m interested in pursuing a career in public relations or another form of media communications after I’ve  completed my bachelor’s degree.”

James participates in Phi Theta Kappa at Inver Hills. On Thursdays, he joins Choir Club led by Kyung Ko, music faculty. On Saturdays, he works a shift as a bakery wrapper at the Hy-Vee Lakeville location. He started working at Hy-Vee in August 2022.

Inver Hills Class of 2025 Commencement Student Speaker

James will be a student speaker at the Inver Hills Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony at TCO Stadium at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 8, 2025. This year’s ceremony will be held outdoors. The title of James’s motivational/informative speech is “Yes, I Can.”

“The topic came from my desire to describe the improvements and development I have made as a person over the past two years,” he said. “More so, however, it is meant to present my story as an example to others who struggle with socialization and with challenging themselves—the point is not so much to undergo a complete transformation as I have, but to believe in one’s own ability to achieve what they desire no matter what others may think.”

Excerpt from “Yes I Can” by James Sanchez

We’re all scared of something. Death. Failure. Rejection. Sometimes that fear can be so crushing that what seems simple to some can seem to others like an obstacle that cannot be overcome.

From day one, I couldn’t talk to anyone because it terrified me. Looking anyone in the eyes made me wince. It became so extreme that my parents suspected something more. At two years old, I was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

At my age, I had no clue what that meant. All I knew was that I was different, and I was reminded of it everywhere I went. Talking or even making eye contact with someone was like trying to crack a code that changed constantly, but everyone around me could do it in their sleep.

My peers strolled through the world with rays of sunshine lighting their way while I sat in darkness and abject fear of that same world, and I couldn’t take it.

With every passing day, I added another level to my tower away from the world. More distance, more separation, but it was never enough. No matter how high I climbed, I couldn’t get out of the hole.

Finally, the dam broke. If I was going to carry on like this, how could I expect to ever feel happy? How would I be anything more than miserable if I never took risks and made every excuse to never leave my comfort zone?

I didn’t want misery. I wanted happiness.

But I was scared. I was terrified—terrified of what people might think of me, terrified of what they might say. If I did nothing, though, how could I know what was on the other side?

I went to the drawing board and set to creating a plan.

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You can hear James’s entire speech at the Inver Hills Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony at TCO Stadium at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 8, 2025.

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More about James…

James grew up between Rosemount, Apple Valley, Lakeville, and Eagan. He graduated from Rosemount High School, Class of 2023.
He currently lives between two homes in Rosemount and Lakeville as his parents have been divorced since 2013.

“I live between two households,” he reported. “Both my parents have since remarried to different people and, at the moment, I live with them and a younger brother who will graduate from high school at the end of May. I have had a total of three rats, five cats, and six dogs over the course of my life.”

Creative writing has been James’s primary interest from an early age. “In the past, I have experimented with most genres of fiction and most narrative forms, having written a few stories that would qualify as novels for their length,” he said. “At the moment, I am working on a few projects and plan to submit my work to a publishing company in the near future.”

James Sanchez family, pets, and college gallery

James Sanchez • Q & A

What inspired you to earn an Associate of Arts (A.A.) at Inver Hills?

The environment was the largest selling point as I found the idea of transitioning from high school to a sprawling four-year university too daunting. At a community college, I would attend classes in an intermediate setting that would allow me to travel from Point A to Point B more smoothly.

What classes have you enjoyed most so far and why?

My favorite classes have been an environmental science course I took in the fall semester and a psychology course centered around death and dying, which I took the previous spring. They have both been integral to the development of the worldview I hold today, and the latter has helped me deal with a recent loss in my family.

What are you looking forward to most after graduating from Inver Hills?

I look forward to expanding my endeavors in creative writing and in contributing directly to the causes of neurodivergent communities.

Three words that describe you as a college student:
DETERMINED. ADAPTABLE. ENTERPRISING.

What advice would you give students thinking about going to college, but unsure if they’ll be successful?

An old proverb suggests the following: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Do not focus on negativity; actively seek out positivity. Keep an open mind and remember that there is no reward without risk. Failure is not falling short of your goal—failure is staying on the ground and giving up. Success is improving every day, even if it’s so small you hardly notice it. Effort is the greatest component of achieving your goals. Luck has its ways, but you are in control of your fate.

What do you like best about Phi Theta Kappa (PTK)?

Perks and honor aside, the opportunities I have to explore not only this specific community, but others around it are not something I would have passed up. Better yet, I am a member for life, so the story does not end when I graduate.

What person has influenced your life the most and why?

Both my parents have played an equal role in who I have become. They have instilled in me a staunch determination and desire to expand my horizons, an openness to new ideas and learning experiences, and formal respect and courtesy for others.

If you could make one thing happen on Earth right now, what would it be?

I would internationalize awareness and acceptance of neurodevelopmental conditions to give millions the chance of which they are being unjustly robbed.

One word that best describes your experience at Inver Hills:

TRANSFORMATIVE

James Sanchez • 12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: My favorite physical activities include walking and, on some occasions, light jogging.
2. Place you would most like to visit: For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to tour England, with stops in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, and Newcastle upon Tyne to name a few cities.
3. Most exciting thing you’ve ever done: The most exciting thing I have ever done was giving my first rendition of the speech I will be presenting at graduation.
4. Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) I would donate $50 million to various charities supporting the education of children with neurodevelopmental conditions, physical disorders, and mental illnesses; other causes would include the rehabilitation of drug addicts and alcoholics, research on autism spectrum disorder and other related conditions, and the search for better forms of treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and—hopefully within my lifetime—CTE. 2) I would either move to a house in the high mountains out west or obtain dual citizenship in another country—either in Canada, England, or Scotland—and buy property out there. Additionally, I would send large sums of money to everyone in my family to ensure their stability 3) I would extensively tour countries whose cultures particularly interest me; this would include itineraries of Europe, East Asia, and Oceania. With this funding, I would embark on these adventures a few times a year for the rest of my life.
5. Best book or movie you’ve read or seen lately: Shutter Island is one of the most mind-boggling novels and films I have read and watched in the last year and in my life; for a sentimental favorite, I finally saw Interstellar in theaters for its 10th anniversary rerelease after a decade of waiting.
6. Time period you would explore if you could time travel: I would have taken trips to various points throughout the 1970s and 1980s, mostly because of the music I listen to and the incredible affordability of concerts during those times. I couldn’t tell you how many bands I would have seen live if I had been around back then.
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: I want to change the lives of as many people as I can for the better with my own story of self-help.
8. Your national bird if you were your own country: If Lyzerilla—a fictitious, landlocked independent territory I created during my senior year of high school that is situated in central Brazil—existed, its national bird would be the purple martin.
9. Dream occupation: My dream occupation is a toss-up between writing novels for a living, touring the country as a motivational speaker, and performing live as a singer.
10. Person you would most like to meet: I would have loved to have met my paternal grandfather, as he died before I was born. From the stories my father has told me, he was an incredible man with a unique ability to remain lighthearted even despite all the adversity he had faced in his life.
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: As a habitual singer, I strive to master a vocal technique that will ensure longevity and continued growth in my ambitions.
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Hubris and the unwillingness to accept change are the core component of most of the struggles we currently face, and the sooner we begin to understand how change has brought us so much progress—this does not mean everyone has to agree with each other—the quicker more of us can see eye to eye on an objective level.

Learn more about earning an Associate of Arts (A.A.) at Inver Hills by contacting:

Admissions Team
admissions@inverhills.edu
651-450-3902
866-576-0689
College Center

• Want more information? Fill out an inquiry form.
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Want to connect with an advisor? Check out our virtual drop-in hours or email admissions@inverhills.edu to request a campus-based or phone appointment.

More about earning your Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree at Inver Hills…

Our #1 transfer degree!

The Associate of Arts (A. A.) degree is an ideal choice if you want to complete your general education requirements and complete the first two years of your bachelor’s degree.

At Inver Hills, you’ll have the added advantage of working one on one with your program faculty. That’s something you probably won’t find as a freshman or even a sophomore at the university level.

Undecided? No problem. Many students start college unsure of what they want to study. Get started and explore all of your options. Attend an A.A. Info Session to learn more!

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