Not My Success Alone
"I had come to know that I could accept help from other people too, that accepting assistance in this crazy, complex thing we call college is not a weakness, but a strength." – Cedric Ayvazian '26
Cedric Ayvazian '26 was an ambassador for ALANA Men in Motion, an HCC support program for men of color. Ayvazian, who lives in Holyoke, graduates May 30 with honors and his associate degree in liberal arts. In September, he will attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst to study economics. Representing both ALANA and El Centro, he gave a speech at the 2026 SUCCESS programs graduation celebration on May 14. His remarks are below:
'Good evening, boa tarde, buenas tardes.
My name is Cedric Lucca Ayvazian, and I’m here to talk about how life can be unexpected, how things can seem that they’ll never work out, and how in the end, against all odds, beautiful things can come to be.
I came to HCC at a moment in my life that I’d never felt so lost academically. My plans for college out of high school had slipped away from me in a moment of frustration, and as I walked across the stage in June of 2022, I did not know where or when I’d next be in a classroom. I arrived at HCC bitter, frustrated, but determined to make it work, all by myself. As far as I was concerned, I had failed to live up to the hard work my family had invested in me, and I was going to right my ship, alone.
If you work with or participate in ALANA and our events you will probably have heard the story I am about to tell. If you already know it, my apologies. But when I think back on how my time here at HCC has turned out to be, I know this to be true: transformation happens in the most unexpected places. I wanted my success here at HCC to be my success alone. During my first semester, I did well in most of my classes but fell utterly short in one. Too embarrassed to ask for help, I got some of the worst grades of my life. My mission to succeed solo had, once again, failed.
It was during this time that I received emails from a Freddie Hernandez, telling me something about a program named “ALANA,” that there was support, specifically for men of color, and that I should come by, meet with him, build community and find friends.
He was persistent; I was resistant. At that time, to ask for or accept help meant failure. It meant I was weak, unable to cope with the situation I had gotten myself into. He kept reaching out. I kept ignoring. I spent my whole first year at HCC, highs and lows, with no one to share it with.
When I finished my first year, I took a break. I went and spent a year in Brazil, where I worked with children and families. I spent those 12 months believing that when I came back, everything would fall into place. I didn’t realize that for things to happen, many times we have to take the first step. As naive as that may sound to some of you, I realized upon return that taking those first steps were going to require support. I’ve always had that support from my family, and I am eternally grateful that, despite all the struggles, they’ve held me close, loved me unconditionally and encouraged me to follow my dreams. Now, I had come to know that I could accept help from other people too, that accepting assistance in this crazy, complex thing we call college is not a weakness, but a strength.
When I came back to HCC, Freddie was the very first face I saw on campus. January of 2025, as I walked through the door of Frost, Freddie was standing there; it seemed as if he was waiting for me.
“Hey Cedric” he said, “ready to finally meet?” And I was. For the first time, I had found my community at HCC."
PHOTOS: Cedric Ayvazian
