El Cerrito High grad Edgar De Anda took advantage of the opportunities San Francisco State had to offer, and that has him thinking big after graduation.

EDGAR DE ANDA STOOD AT THE PODIUM, cast a glance toward his fellow Engineering graduates, family and friends that sat in front of him, and started his Valedictorian speech by trying to describe his experience at San Francisco State.

“My time at San Francisco State has been nothing short of an unforgettable adventure,” he said.

Given what he has already accomplished, that adventure is only just beginning.

A member of the El Cerrito High class of 2020 whose college experience started in the virtual world created by the COVID-19 pandemic, De Anda graduated recently from SF State with his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.

He didn’t just graduate. 

De Anda was asked to deliver the Valedictorian student speaker speech for the Engineering department. Thanks to a 3.95 grade point average, he graduated at the top of his class in one of the toughest departments the school has to offer.

The speech, which De Anda posted to his LinkedIn page, gave the Richmond native a chance to display many of the qualities that helped guide him through both online and in-person studies. His quick wit and ability to tell a joke – even about his calculator – contributed to an address that was both engaging and inspirational.

Earning his degree in Engineering came thanks to a curiosity De Anda acquired while in high school. While working in construction with his stepfather, Everardo Vazquez, he got a chance to interact with a civil engineer, Vicente Orozco, who showed him a set of blueprints that piqued his interest.

“I wanted to understand what he was doing,” De Anda said.

Once he got to San Francisco State, that curiosity turned into a calling. 

Though he earned mostly Bs and Cs in high school, De Anda eventually learned that he had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). That meant that finding a field that interested him might just be the key that unlocked his academic potential.

“I realized that engineering was my passion because it’s something I can focus on and because I enjoyed doing it,” De Anda said. “You know, when it comes to ADHD, you don’t want to focus on things you don’t enjoy. But as soon as you find a subject you enjoy, you focus on it.”

De Anda credits the help of instructors and fellow students for making his undergraduate experience a successful one.

He made the most of his online experience to start his college career, meeting students and making friends via Discord and Zoom even as he worked a job at Richmond Costco during his first year in college. 

Once in-person instruction resumed, he got to know his professors and established personal connections that helped turn him into a top student.

That work ethic followed off campus as well. He landed an internship as a Student Design Trainee with the City and County of San Francisco, a role he still holds. And, he did all this while commuting from the East Bay.

So, what’s the key to taking advantage of the college experience while also being a commuter student?

“I’ve got some advice for people if they do that,” De Anda said. “Do homework on BART and on the bus. If you’re going to be there for a couple hours from Richmond BART to Daly City BART, just do homework and study. You’re going to be there for a few hours. Might as well do math equations and study.”

De Anda also credits the support of Richmond Promise for helping make a college degree a reality. The financial support of the Richmond Promise Scholarship was a big help, as was the personalized coaching and mentorship he received from one of RP’s partners, Beyond 12. 

What’s next for De Anda? He’ll continue in his role with the City and County of San Francisco while he works to finish up a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering. By taking advantage of the SF State Scholars Program that blends Bachelor’s and Master’s classes, he only needs one more year to finish his Master’s.

Once he’s done with school, De Anda has his sights set on starting his career in the field of structural engineering. He mentions that building a bridge would be of interest, and his tone gives away that it’s not really a joke — he actually does want to build a bridge.

At the same time, he wants other students to Richmond to see his story as a pathway that is also open to them, and that if he can graduate at the top of his class in engineering, so can they. And, he wants to make sure that whatever work he does moving forward, giving back is also part of the equation. 

“I want to help those in need and help my community. That was kind of my main goal when I first started (studying engineering). I wanted to build houses for those in need,” De Anda said. “It’s going to be difficult because there’s so many programs that do that already. But, people have a hard time building houses for people unless they get something in return. And that’s something I’m trying to figure out so I can help those in need and also motivate others to help.”

Before closing his valedictorian speech with a few thank yous, De Anda delivered one last message to his fellow graduates that will surely serve him well as he figures out the next step in his own adventure.

“If you want to survive in this scary, confusing, stressful world, increase your (SF State) Gator community by offering help to people who are in need,” De Anda said. “When you give kindness, it will always cycle back to you.”