ECC Stories 2025 - Meet Jorge Garcia

Elgin Community College (ECC) student Jorge Garcia first came to the college during his senior year of high school through a dual credit class. After finishing high school, he knew ECC was the right place to keep going. 

“I like it here,” Garcia said. “It’s financially convenient and close to my house, and I’ve met a lot of people. The teachers are very nice, too. They’re helpful, and they care.” 

Garcia didn’t hesitate to immerse himself in ECC’s student life, regularly attending activities and events. He even joined the Engineering Club and the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS).

“I love being in a club that tries to do things for other people,” Garcia said.

Garcia is pursuing an Associate in Engineering Science degree at ECC, working through his final semester before he graduates this spring. His interest in engineering, specifically civil engineering, began when he realized he was not only good at math but liked it, too.

“It made me think about doing something with numbers,” Garcia said. “Then, in high school, I took physics and thought, ‘Okay, I really like this.’ I talked with one of my professors, and they said I should consider engineering because it aligns with what I like and what I am good at. It was only a matter of time before I figured out that I wanted to be a civil engineer.”

Garcia began to consider civil engineering while working in construction over the summer. After meeting the civil engineers on the job, he listened to their paths and knew he wanted to follow in their footsteps.

Garcia’s next step after ECC is to transfer to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). He has friends who attend the school already, has met a few professors, and is attracted to city life.

“After I graduate with my bachelor’s degree, I will start working as an engineer here in Illinois for a little while,” Garcia said. “Then I’d like to explore what else is out there in other places in the U.S. and see how engineers work there.”

Garcia’s focus is locked in, and his excitement is brewing as he nears the end of his time at ECC. He looks forward to the next step in his life. Learn more about Garcia below.

What’s one thing you do outside of ECC? I like to work out a lot. I started in high school, and I’ve kept going since then. I also like to be with my family; that’s so important to me, especially since I’ll be going away to Chicago next fall and won’t see them as much. Right now, I’m trying to spend as much time as possible with them. I also like hanging out with my friends – the ones I’ve met here and old friends.

Dogs, cats, or houseplants? Birds! When I was growing up, I would visit my aunt, and she had birds. They would whistle, and my aunt said they were smart and that you could teach them anything – whatever you do, however you act, they would learn from you. When she had baby birds, she gave one to me, and I called her KeKu. I taught her how to whistle songs I’d listen to.

Where is one place you dream of traveling to, and why? I’ve always wanted to visit Moscow, Russia, because I’ve met two people from there. One is a friend from middle school, and he told me the architecture is really nice. The other is an athlete who is so strong—  he told me how they would train there.

What’s your favorite food to cook or eat out? I love Chinese food. A Chinese buffet is the best after a long day of grinding. I also like French food, specifically a croque madame – a ham and Gruyere cheese sandwich topped with a fried egg.

Shout out to an ECC staff or peer! Everyone in engineering —shout out to them. We’ve all worked together these past few semesters. Also, I would like to give a shout-out to all of the engineering and mathematics teachers. They’ve all been very helpful.