Discipline, Purpose Shape TCC Graduate’s Path

Abraan Lopez found clarity and direction at Tulsa Community College while balancing work and completing his degree. Now a graduate, he is laying the foundation for a medical career.

Abraan Lopez’s first day of his summer semester at Tulsa Community College did not go as planned. After finishing a late-night shift at work, he rode his bike home hoping to get a few hours of sleep before his first class.

“My bike turns over and I split my chin, got seven stitches, broke two molars,” Lopez recalled. “I went to bed at 6 in the morning. I still showed up to my 1 o’clock class.”

That moment reflects the mindset he carried during his time at TCC.

Lopez walked across the stage to receive his diploma on Monday after years of balancing full-time coursework with long weekend shifts as a security officer. His path to graduation was defined by discipline and a willingness to show up even when circumstances were difficult.

“Things happen no matter what. But what lasts is what you do consistently over time,” he noted.

During his first semester at TCC, Lopez spent most days on campus, moving between classes and long hours in the library. As a pre-med student, he estimated he spent as many as 80 hours a week on coursework, treating school as a full-time commitment alongside his paid work.

“This is my third time in school,” Lopez said. “I jumped in headfirst without knowing. You don't need to have everything figured out.”

Finding Purpose

Originally from New York, Lopez is a first-generation college student and the oldest of seven children. He first attempted college out of high school and went back several years later to pursue mechanical engineering. The program piqued his interest, but he didn’t feel it gave him purpose.

“I had to find something that gave meaning to my life instead of me applying my life to something else,” he said.

He decided to pursue a medical career with the goal of becoming a Doctor of Osteopathy.

“I’m always trying to help people find healthier alternatives, and that’s something I’ve always done,” he explained. “They use a lot of natural, psychological, emotional help—whatever helps cure and also maintain health.”

Lopez moved to Tulsa five years ago, marking his first time living out of state. Returning to school meant navigating college largely on his own, without family nearby to lean on.

“I'm kind of carving out a path from myself. And while I'm doing that, I see that I'm making way for others, even if it's unintentionally,” he said.

Support Through TRIO

At TCC, Lopez found both academic momentum and direction. He became a tutor with TRIO, helping other students succeed in courses he had already completed.

Lopez said TRIO played a significant role in his success at TCC, and he will be inducted into the Oklahoma TRIO Hall of Fame next year.

“I was at 1% battery when I found TRIO after my first semester. I was by myself in a place where I didn’t know anybody, and TRIO covered that gap,” he said. “The consistency of seeing the same people there every day is what helped me keep moving. They have answers for you. And if they don’t, they go get it while you’re doing your tasks. Then when you come back, they have it for you.”

Lopez will attend Oklahoma State University to work toward his bachelor’s degree before pursuing medical school.

 As he moves on from TCC, he hopes his story resonates with other working and returning students who may question whether college is possible amid competing responsibilities.

“Especially returning students have so much going on and they think they can’t go to school. And I'm here to tell you, I was in the same boat,” he said. “You just need to go for it, and you’ll figure out the rest.”