Tony Russell

Student

“You have to research before you start your program. A good counselor can help you make the best of SMC.”

Tony Russell was in high school when SMC actually came to him. “Colleges came to our school to show us what was available. And when I saw all the options I had at SMC, I knew that was the place to start college,” says Tony. He’s working full time to pay the bills and living at home with a very approving mom at the moment. “She’s happy to see me doing good things and getting educated, and she’s proud that I’m not out on the street.” The concept of ‘right and wrong’ runs deep in Tony’s family. And when he does ‘hit the streets,’ he plans to do so as a federal prosecutor.

“I plan on transferring to Loyola Law School, and my teacher, Professor Galvin, tells me all the time not to settle for anything less. I want to be involved in the judicial system because I think criminals have too many rights,” says Tony. “The system seems to be more for the criminals than it is for the victims, and that’s what I’d like to change. I’m looking at a lot of different options I have where I can be involved in criminal law,” says Tony. “And I keep getting good information about my choices at SMC.”

Tony says that “students need to be responsible for the course of action they take. When I first started at SMC, I got off track until I asked for help from the counseling office. That made all the difference.” The future prosecutor was getting ready, when last seen, for a big test. “But I’m not nervous. I’m ready for it. I’ve studied, and I’m prepared to do what I have to do.” Bad guys, take heed.

Back