Gallegos today is on track to earn a bachelor’s degree in geography with an emphasis in environmental sustainability and policy in the fall of 2022. He’s also working as a tutor at Grossmont College’s Geography Department and manages the Biology Department greenhouse at SDSU.

His journey hasn’t come without its challenges. Holding dual citizenship from Mexico and the United States, Gallegos grew up in Tecate and woke up well before dawn daily to get a ride to school from his father, who commuted daily across the border. “We got in line at the border crossing at 4 in the morning, I’d get dropped off at school at 6, I’d stay with relatives after school until my dad got off work and could pick me up, we’d head home, often very late at night, and then do it again the next day,” he said.

It was worth the inconvenience. Gallegos graduated from Granite Hills High School and enrolled at Cuyamaca College en route to what he thought would be a career in horticulture. Gallegos earned associate degrees in landscape technology, Greenhouse technology, and horticulture – and was working as an arborist when he decided to go back to school for a bachelor’s degree at San Diego State University. First, though, he enrolled at Grossmont College for a couple general education requirements needed to transfer. One of them was Geography 120. 

“That opened the door to where I am today,” he said. “It set me down a path to an entirely different yet related world in the field of geography.”

Geography 120 was followed by physical geography, then human geography, and finally, a geographic information science lab course. He enrolled at San Diego State in the spring of 2021 and completed a summer internship with a nonprofit as an ecological restoration biologist intern. His job: identifying various species of vegetation and plotting them via GIS as part of a larger effort to develop strategies in restoring wildlands. 

“Francisco is an inspiring example of a simple fact: in spite of the nearly two-year campus closure due to Covid at Grossmont College, the ‘college experience/ didn’t close,” said geography instructor Tim Cliffe. “Instead, amazing students continued to be produced at Grossmont, and they continued to grow and to bond and to lay the basis for an exciting future, just like we’ve always done at this amazing institution. The era of Covid may be temporary, but Francisco is already transforming my discipline permanently for the better.”

Indeed, Gallegos embodies why Grossmont College for years has been the leading community college in the nation when it comes to the number of students transferring to San Diego State University. The Earth Sciences Department is among the reasons. It offers a smorgasbord of courses ranging from geographic information systems to meteorology, oceanography, human and cultural geography, and more.

“The support I received from Grossmont College, specifically from the Earth Sciences Department, has been amazing,” he said. “People like Tim Cliffe have been remarkable advocates and have helped me tremendously along my path.”

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Grossmont College, the San Diego Workforce Partnership, and the East County Chamber of Commerce will host the free, public event 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27. Students, alumni, job- and career- seekers can register at https://tinyurl.com/VirtualCareerExpo2021. Employers can register for free at https://tinyurl.com/5ctu4xyb. A Remo login will be emailed upon registration.

Remo is an easy-to-use virtual conference platform that will allow job-seekers to visit multiple “tables” and be interviewed privately in real time by potential employers. When the conference switches to presentation mode, attendees can visit as avatars. A digital room with tables will be available where they can sit and listen to presentations. They can also take part in chat and networking sessions among themselves and vendors.

 Attendees will have a bird’s eye view of the room and can identify those present and find empty seats to occupy. Waiting rooms will be set up so attendees can wait their turn to visit stations that are full. More than 50 employers and vendors have signed up so far, about 20 more than last year, with more expected to join as the event draws nearer.

“There’s a lot of buzz among employers looking for people to hire as the economy recovers from pandemic closures,” said Grossmont College Career Services Supervisor Renee Nasori. “The challenge is to get potential workers to respond. There are challenges relating to COVID mandates and people who are rethinking job options to better suit their own needs.”

Organizers are even raffling off a drone in hopes of boosting interest among potential workers.

Employers and industries represented at this year’s expo include Scripps-owned television stations KERO in Bakersfield, KSBY in San Louis Obispo and KGTV in San Diego; Hyatt Regency of La Jolla; Viejas Casino and Resort; Sycuan Casino and Resort; Bartell Hotels; Pacific Housing Inc.; San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance; SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment; McDonald’s; Jack in the Box-PGC Foods; Scripps Ranch Swim and Racquet Club; Waterworks Aquatics; YMCA of SD County; Payan Pool Services, Inc.; R&R Business Solutions Inc.; RMD Group; Better Night; City Experiences; and GAP Intelligence, Inc.

Public-sector entities such as the County of San Diego Dept. of the Assessor Recorder County Clerk; CA Dept. of Tax and Fee Administration; FBI San Diego; San Diego County Office of Education-Science Outreach; San Diego Workforce Partnership; All Kids Academy Head Start Inc.; Extended School Services, La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools; El Cajon Police Dept.; Chula Vista Police Dept.; National City Police Dept.; and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Dept. will also be represented.

Nonprofits including Public Consulting Group; ChildCare Careers; PASS AmeriCorps and the Arc of San Diego will have tables, as well as health- and senior care providers, including Marque Urgent Care; San Ysidro Health; Cambrian Homecare; VITAS Healthcare; American United Home Care; ResCare Community Living; Senior Resource Group; Maxim Healthcare Services; and St. Paul’s Senior Services.

“Last year, we were seeing a decline in employment engagement due to COVID cases and shutdowns, but it’s an entirely different story this year,” Nasori said. “I’m expecting employers to keep signing on up until the day of the event. The demand for workers is there. It’s just getting people to apply for jobs.”

Attendees are encouraged to present themselves professionally and have their resumes ready since the Remo platform is so interactive.

“Some of the companies will have additional tables for interviewing,” Nasori said. “They can also use the chat and whiteboard feature to message one another privately and learn about the company and vacancies.”

 Nasori also said that attendees have the option of uploading their resumes and LinkedIn profiles that will pop up with a click of the mouse by employers.

The career center is offering a series of free virtual workshops available to anyone to prepare for the expo and to continue a successful job search afterwards:

• Effective Communication: 11 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, Oct. 19
• Resume Writing: 10-11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 5
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: 11 a.m.-noon, Friday, Nov. 5
• Social and Diversity Awareness: 4-5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 10.

 RSVP for the workshops at https://tinyurl.com/56av5fsw

Advancing San Diego 2^nd Annual Career Exploration Day and Virtual Career Fair

Advancing San Diego’s Career Exploration Day and Virtual Career Fair is back for a second year on Thursday, Nov. 18. A collaborative effort involving the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp., the daylong event is from 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and is targeted toward students looking for internships and entry-level positions.

The industry event will bring together San Diego companies and students for a day of career exploration, professional development, company information sessions, networking and hiring. Industry panels in software and cybersecurity; engineering and manufacturing; marketing and operations; and healthcare and life sciences are scheduled for 11 a.m.-3 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. panel on how to stand out in the hiring process, and a career fair open to all students at 4 p.m.

Register at sandiegocareers.vfairs.com/en/registration

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