No jest: He’s graduating

Jorge Mendoza believed he was merely joking when he mentioned to his then-girlfriend, now-wife, “Maybe one day I’ll attend school at Harvard.”

Many years later, the jest, he happily acknowledges, is on him.

“It actually happened!” exclaims Mendoza, who graduated this week with a Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts in Extension Studies, focusing on business administration and management.

Originating from Colombia and brought up in New York City, Mendoza became a part of Harvard as a custodial supervisor in 2018. Shortly thereafter, he enrolled at Harvard Extension School to continue from where his earlier college education had paused.

“To see the finish line is extraordinary because it seemed so distant,” stated Mendoza, a 39-year-old father of two. “I’ve been involved in management for quite some time, so pursuing my business degree while being certain of my career path just made sense for me.”

“Jorge was one of those students who came in with such strong resolve to leave no stone unturned.”

Jill Slye

The six-year journey was anything but simple. With support from Harvard’s Tuition Assistance Program, Mendoza promptly started to “chip away” at his studies, enrolling in two courses each semester and a few during various summers. Two public speaking classes taught by Jill Slye stood out as some of his favorites.

Slye, in return, commended Mendoza for his academic dedication.

“There are always students who exude an energy that signals they are wholly invested from the start,” she remarked. “They arrive in class committed, open-minded, and prepared to overcome any obstacles in their quest for knowledge. Jorge was one of those students who came in with a fierce determination to leave nothing unexamined.”

Working full-time while studying part-time at Harvard granted Mendoza “insider knowledge” during his classes, he noted. This spring, he enrolled in an architecture course that involved many campus buildings, many of which were familiar from his regular work hours.

“Other students joined the class from various parts of the globe,” he said. “They might be able to view images online and take a few virtual tours. Yet, experiencing the campus firsthand, navigating through or past the buildings, and even overseeing some of them offers you a unique [perspective],” he added.

Mendoza temporarily contemplated missing Commencement since it generally was just another workday. “Then I actually began to feel excited about it.”

The only downside of being an employee while also taking classes is that you might not fully embrace the joy of being a Harvard student, Mendoza mentioned. He even briefly considered skipping Commencement, as it usually seemed like just another day at work.

However, his mother and sisters expressed their desire to partake in the tradition, and his wife challenged his lack of enthusiasm. “Then I truly began to feel thrilled about it, and I said, ‘You know what? This is unique. This is my Commencement. This is what I’ve toiled for,’” he recounted.

He has also labored to serve as an example to his children.

“I want them to be able to say, ‘My dad achieved this while we were present,’” he stated. “’He accomplished it with kids and family.’”

And that’s a significant reason he isn’t finished yet. Mendoza has set his sights on a new objective: a master’s in liberal arts in sustainability from the Extension School.

“I aspire to continue growing academically, as I have a passion for learning,” he expressed. “I want to return to focus on sustainability. It is a priority for the University and for the world. It’s something I aim to concentrate on to develop in my career and to continue making a difference.”