“Ever since I was young, my dad would always tell me I could do anything that I set my mind to. He said this so much, in fact, that I thought it was a joke,” said Richard Beckman. “Looking back, I'm glad that he said it almost every day and I continue to hold that phrase close to my heart. It's this mentality that has driven me to do everything that I do today.”
Currently studying Communications at South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), Richard is involved in a little bit of everything. Ranging from being an international DECA competitor to participating as a student-athlete in cross country, he is truly a Renaissance scholar.
While his schedule is full of many interests and activities, Richard’s true passion lies in technology and innovation. Being involved in FIRST Robotics taught him the foundational skills of programming, prototyping, and design. At SPSCC, he has continued to explore the variety of ways his expertise can make in impact by joining the Undergraduate Research program. He is currently working on a project focused on water purification.
“I love the engineering process and the constant opportunities to optimize, learn, and improve,” Richard shared. “It's incredibly satisfying to see the combination of utilizing what I learn in the classroom with what I have learned in robotics to design something new.”
Richard is also involved in the community. Growing up in a bilingual school brought him face-to-face with challenges Latinx communities experience due to language barriers. As a volunteer at Sound Learning, Richard dedicates his time to teaching English to Latinx individuals, allowing them to take on citizenship exams, interviews, and finding resources with confidence and proficiency.
“This process of teaching others and witnessing their growth throughout the program has shown me just how much I love guiding someone through such an important period of their life. It's a crucial time when many students are adapting to a new language, a new country, and a new culture. I have the opportunity to be someone who makes that transition easier,” he said.
After graduating from SPSCC with both an Associate in Science and an Associate in Arts, Richard plans on transferring to the University of Washington to pursue a bachelor's degree in engineering. He hopes to continue his academic journey by going on to pursue a master’s.
“You may think that none of the things I do have anything in common and you would be right,” Richard joked. “But, I set my mind to them. Believing I could do anything I set my mind to has inspired me to live without limits and try anything that my heart desires.”