With a lifelong love and involvement with music, Sebastian Nieves-LaSalle decided to follow his passion after enrolling in Hillsborough Community College (HCC).
Originally from Puerto Rico, Sebastian moved to Florida in 2005 and began his education in the States with his family’s guidance for better education, growth and development opportunities. Inspired by his mom, a college graduate herself, Sebastian enrolled in the HCC nursing program in 2019 as a full-time student, hoping for a career with good job opportunities.
“I’d be lying that the first semester wasn’t a learning curve. Some moments were harder than others,” he said. “Going from on campus then straight to online during the pandemic, it was a difficult transition.”
After his first semester in the program, he realized his heart wasn’t in it. Sebastian shifted his educational focus to music to further his love and knowledge. His motivation picked up momentum and upon returning to in-person courses, he found his stride while enrolled at the Ybor City Campus.
He loved that he never felt confined to one building on the campus and steadily became more comfortable going to college directly after high school. He fell in love with the open atmosphere, art and culture surrounding the campus. “The personable experiences at HCC made me gravitate towards it,” he said. “The smaller classes helped push for feeling like a person and not a student number on a page.”
Faculty were always available and accessible to him and his peers, and he felt a sense of a personable and friendly community.
“Bigger is not always better. Most classes are so small, you’re able to feel answered or heard because teachers aren’t lecturing hundreds. You can collaborate with most of the students, you can plan study sessions, you can hang out and grow,” he said.
Utilizing HCC resources such as financial aid, scholarships, the library and the tutoring center, he gained a better comprehension of his courses and had counseling to pass his classes and excel.
“Talk to everybody, get to know everybody. If there’s an opportunity presented to you, try your absolute best, because you’ll never know where that opportunity will take you,” he said.
Sebastian’s admission in the HCC music program came from his community engagement when he was younger. His dad, a local musician, introduced Sebastian to chorus and inspired him to perform in high school. Since then, he strived to do something with that passion.
“Learn to get comfortable with yourself when you appreciate the sound you make,” he said. “The more you’re going to love what you do, the more opportunities will soon open for you.”
HCC music faculty, such as Ruthie Nelson, enlightened Sebastian to his potential future in music. It was convenient to explore vocal performance, and working alongside others is what Sebastian strived for. “Collaborating and helping others put my attention to music education. Being at HCC helped me realize I wanted to be a music teacher,” he said.
His time at HCC taught him to be a team player and a leader. “That’s something I realized was extremely helpful,” he said. “When people think they’re struggling, they feel comfortable coming to me and asking for assistance, and with open arms, I can help them out.”
Sebastian graduated from HCC in December of 2022 with zero debt thanks to financial aid and scholarships. “You’re getting the same level of education as bigger colleges,” he added. He’s thankful for his parents’ support in his pursuit of music and his girlfriend, who has been his number-one fan for the last seven years and is a familiar face at his concerts.
Now, Sebastian is enrolled as a full-time student at the University of South Florida (USF), where he is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in music education and is working on courses such as pedagogy, philosophy, classroom management and program building. His long-term goal is to intern and find an educational job as a music teacher at either an elementary or high school.
“Don’t lose motivation,” he said. “Some may feel school drags on, but it’s not forever. Keep an open mind, and if you see any opportunities presented to you, try and take them. Take as many as you can. You may feel overwhelmed, but you can handle more than you know. You’re stronger than you think!”
Sebastian continues to keep in touch with HCC faculty, such as Ruthie, Kenneth Hanks and Christopher Halloway, who guided his future to where he is today. He’s even had opportunities to speak and perform as an HCC alum at events such as the first annual Arte Vive fundraising event held on the Ybor City Campus in November 2023 and a candlelight recessional at Disney World’s Epcot in December 2023. Because his relationships with faculty have turned into friendships, he plans to continue to take part in future HCC and USF collaborations.
Sebastian looks back on his HCC experience fondly. While he attends USF classes, he finds himself missing the College. For the opportunities he was given, he was grateful for the lessons to grow in and outside of the classroom, and the memories of music he hopes to continue building at USF.
“Once you find something you love to do, never forget why you love to do it. Never lose sight of it, and something I tell myself is that good things come to those who wait.”