Fuel in my Engine
"I didn't come to HCC with confidence, but I'm leaving with some, and more – opportunities, purpose, and a community I'll always be proud to be part of." – Jamal Cumberbatch '26
Liberal arts major Jamal Cumberbatch '26 of Springfield was one of two students invited to speak at HCC's Fall Graduate Reception on Dec. 1. This is the full text of his speech,
'Hello everyone. I’m Jamal R. Cumberbatch, liberal arts and sciences major.
To give some background about myself: when I first enrolled at HCC, it wasn’t with a lot of confidence.
It was January. I was 27. Cold. Tired. Worn out.
I was working three jobs trying to save up to move to a cheaper apartment in Springfield.
So, two years ago, I spent more time in my car than in my bed — chasing paycheck to paycheck to survive.
Now, two years later, I’m walking across my first stage since middle school.
I came to HCC as an adult student who’s worked his whole adult life – just like my parents did, and their parents before them. And I learned – from them– to keep going, even when everything else told me to stop.
From the beginning, the imposter syndrome hit me hard – being a working man with a fiancé among what I thought were gonna be teenagers and heady academics.
Halfway through my degree program, I lost my job. I still had to figure out how to keep the lights on, pay rent, and somehow stay enrolled.
There were nights where I wondered if I could afford to keep up with classes and semesters where I had to drop courses just to make ends meet.
Luckily, advisers and campus staff here helped me forge a path forward. They helped me realize the same experiences and work ethic I thought would “other” me were actually my advantage, and that there were a lot of students here with a similar story.
I was already used to 10- 12-hour shifts, so how could I complain about one all-nighter to write a paper? I never struggled to meet word counts because I have a lifetime of things to say – and maybe complain about. Deadlines were easy for me to meet since they never threatened to withhold my paycheck or shut off my lights.
Those long workdays, and what some would call struggles – they weren’t obstacles to my education. They were fuel in my engine. People think you earn a degree by being smart or talented, but I strongly disagree. I didn’t get here because of what I know. That’s what college is for – to teach you skills in life that you need to know.
I got here because I worked steadily toward my goal.
And I know I’m not alone. Looking around the room, I don’t just see smart, capable people. I see hard workers. Many of us balance jobs, families, and our own doubts to get here. And now we’re proof that full-time cooks, delivery drivers, single parents, gym rats, even all-night gamers – anyone with passion, a dream, and drive – can do this. Others may see that we have full plates; but I see the strength it takes to carry those full plates, year after year.
So, the question is: how do we decide to use that strength?
For me, finding this school gave me direction. My classes gave me knowledge. The staff gave me goals to reach for, and their networks gave me realistic opportunities. But all of you, this community, gave me a sense of belonging and support that I didn’t even know I needed.
I didn’t come to HCC with confidence, but I’m leaving with some, and more – opportunities, purpose, and a community I’ll always be proud to be part of. I’m so grateful to everyone here because I absolutely did not get to this stage alone and as I look out, I see the faces and hands of everyone that helped me get here.
Congratulations to this HCC graduating class. We’ve worked hard for this, and it’s very well-earned. I can’t wait to see where our drive takes us next — and I hope we all stay connected to keep lifting each other up further down the road.
Seriously — connect with me on LinkedIn, so we can all find each other through my profile!
Jamal R. Cumberbatch! Peace and love."
