Student Spotlight: Meet Maceo Coleman!
Fullerton College students come from all walks of life – each one with an individual story of how they arrived at FC, challenges and achievements they’ve experienced along the way, and most importantly, a goal of where they’re headed beyond Fullerton College. Their stories help connect us, inspire us, and give meaning to fact that Community Lives Here.
Maceo Coleman is full of positivity and strives to be a leader among his peers. A member of the Speech and Debate Team, Coleman earned fifth place at the Novice National Championship Tournament in the 2018 spring semester with his communications analysis on the film Get Out and afro-pessimism. This semester Coleman is competing with a communications analysis speech on Black Panther through afrofuturism and has already won first place in the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association. He practices his speeches daily and has high hopes for the tournaments moving forward.
Coleman delivers his award-winning speech on Black Panther during Fall Convocation.
After graduating from Heritage High School in the San Francisco Bay Area, Coleman began attending Fullerton College in the fall of 2017 where he struggled with loneliness. A typical day would consist of going to class and going home to his empty apartment. As an extra credit opportunity for his communications class, Coleman attended a Speech and Debate tournament which piqued his interest and compelled him to join the team. There he found a supportive community and has not felt alone since joining the team. Now Coleman makes an effort to be a positive source of energy on campus and cheer up anyone feeling down. He has attended student development workshops and the Leaders in Training retreat hosted by Student Activities to become a better leader for newcomers in Speech and Debate. Coleman desires to transfer to Arizona State University where he plans to study communications and eventually attend law school to become a lawyer for underserved African Americans. He thanks his communications professors Jeffrey Samano, Jeanette Rodriguez, and Toni Nielson for the success he has encountered so far. Here’s what Coleman has to say about being a Hornet!
Why did you choose Fullerton College?
I came to Fullerton College because my brother goes to Fullerton College. I said “I might as well go there with my brother and then we could go to the same school.” That’s the main reason why I went to FC.
What support programs have you encountered while at FC?
I grew up in the Bay Area, so when I got here, I didn’t know anybody except my brother. With Speech and Debate, it gave me friends, a family, people I could talk to and just a hobby to do when I don’t have anything else to do. My first year, I was really lost. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I wasn’t even taking my classes seriously. Then, my communications professor Toni Nielson really stepped in and played a major role of why I am where I am today.
What did you enjoy most about Fullerton College?
Probably have to say Speech and Debate. Like I said, everyone is so nice with each other, giving me the opportunity to be doing better things. Also going to the basketball games. Shout out to those guys, working hard every day.
Do you have any advice for new and current students?
You’ve got to just find something. There’s all these clubs on campuses. There’s always something you can find to do on campus, and if you just find something, then that’s how you create friendships, relationships and then it just goes on from there. You don’t want to feel like you don’t belong. My first year, I was like “this is college, I’m not here to make friends. I’m just coming here to do my stuff and leave.” If you come in here with that type of attitude, you’re not going to have a good time. Instead, you’re going to dread your time when you can actually have a good time.
