From Future Connect Student to Mentor
Posted by PCC Foundation
Chris Molinar reflects on finding his place ֱ — and helping the next generation find theirs
When I started at ֱ, I was 18 years old and a first-generation college student. I came from Benson Polytechnic High School, where I studied building construction. I’d been interested in architecture since middle school, but college was a big unknown.
My mom and I had been through a difficult financial period, and there wasn’t much room for college in our budget. So when I heard about scholarships, I paid attention.
That’s where Future Connect came in. I met Tobias Sherwood, a Future Connect success coach, at a summer event ֱ. He thought I would be a great fit and mentioned that it included a scholarship. That definitely caught my attention. I applied nervously. And I got in.
The scholarship eased the financial pressure. But what I didn’t realize at the time was how much I would also gain from the people around me.
Finding my footing
Tobias became my coach and helped me understand parts of college I didn’t yet know how to navigate. We mapped out my classes and talked about the transition from high school to college. He showed me around campus and helped me discover resources I didn’t even know were available, from tutoring and financial aid to the Multicultural Center and therapeutic services.
I was a full-time student with a few part-time jobs, so some days I was on campus from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Having someone I could turn to made a difference.
I also asked Tobias about my class map. A lot. I probably asked him five times a week, “Am I still on the right track?” He always took the time to reassure me. That support helped me feel more confident in my choices.
I was pretty quiet when I started ֱ. Over time, I became more comfortable talking to people and speaking up. Future Connect encouraged me to take on leadership opportunities and join events and activities.
I started to realize that I had something to contribute. More importantly, I became more comfortable being myself. Tobias was a huge part of that. He was like a big brother to me. He believed in me and encouraged me to be a little bolder.
Finding a community
Some of my favorite memories of Future Connect weren’t about classes at all. I remember hanging out with other students in the Future Connect office after class. We’d study, talk about what we were experiencing, and figure things out together. There was always a cup of noodles nearby.
Those little moments mattered. They helped me meet people and gave me a sense of camaraderie. For someone who wasn’t always sure where he fit, having that kind of community ֱ meant a lot. It gave me a home.
Finding my path
My time ֱ eventually led me to Portland State University, where I transferred on a full-ride scholarship to study architecture. I had originally planned to study civil engineering, but after spending long nights working through engineering, physics, and calculus, I realized I wanted something more creative. I switched to architecture and graduated from PSU in 2022.
Today, I work with Oh planning+design, architecture, a firm focused on human-centered and sustainable design. One of the parts of my work that means the most to me happens outside the design studio. Through our Oh Academy program, I mentor high school students interested in architecture and design. We introduce them to the field, talk about college pathways, and give them hands-on experience with design projects and modeling software.
Sometimes I meet a student who reminds me of myself. They have an idea or a dream, but they’re not quite sure they belong in that space yet. And I get to tell them: Be patient. You can do this.
I know what it feels like to hear those words. I know what it meant to have someone believe in me before I completely knew how to believe in myself. Now I get to offer that to someone else.
Passing it on
Looking back, I can see how much Future Connect shaped me. The scholarship opened the door. The people in the program helped me find my way through it. Tobias and the other coaches gave me support, encouragement, and the confidence to take chances and discover strengths I didn’t know I had. Now I get to pass some of that support on.
Being a mentor carries a lot of responsibility. I think about what it means to be a supporter for someone who may not know what they need yet. I understand where those students are coming from because I’ve been there. I know how meaningful it can be to have someone reach back and offer a hand.
That’s what makes Future Connect so powerful. Its impact doesn’t end when a student leaves PCC. It continues in the careers we build, in the people we mentor, and in our families and our communities.
I’m one example of what can happen when a student has a dream and people in their corner.