Bethea served as the Associated Student Government (ASG) President at City College and as the student representative on the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees for two terms from 2022 to 2024. He achieved an associate degree in business administration.
"I can happily say I am a City College graduate, this will always be a place where I grew tremendously," said Bethea, 21, who will transfer to California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM) in spring 2025 to study global supply chain management.
Before going to CSUSM, Bethea reflects on his time as a City College Knight and his commitment to student interests. "I enjoyed serving in a number of extracurriculars because our student voices are really important. We take care of one another."
Pursuing an education at City College deeply impacted Bethea as someone who faced adversity coming from biracial Black and Mexican roots. English classes taught through the African American diaspora and personal growth courses were his most memorable subjects. He got involved immediately on campus while a student at East Village Middle College High School with the City College UMOJA community, Muslim Student Association, and ASG. He was named ASG treasurer in 2021 prior to being elected twice as ASG president, where he focused on hosting student recognition events and strengthening campus life.
Bethea participated in state and federal advocacy in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., to lobby for more funding for the district’s San Diego Promise program. He met with elected officials; Assembly Members Akilah Weber, David Alvarez, and Tasha Boerner Horvath, Representatives Sara Jacobs, Scott Peters, and Juan Vargas, as well as United States Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten. "Going to Sacramento and D.C. was my very first time on an airplane. I couldn’t believe it, especially since my first time flying was to talk to the congress men and women. It was incredible to bring attention to the promise program and to get to know our nation’s leaders."
The national platform was rewarding. "These opportunities strengthened the skills I wanted to improve on. Working on multiple projects wasn’t my best strength before, but I bettered my communications skills and learned to adapt to challenges," stated Bethea, who recalls feeling nervous during his 2022 City College fall convocation remarks.
Despite his early fears toward public speaking; this May, Bethea delivered his favorite speech as the student speaker during the college's commencement alongside keynote, Katya Echazarreta, a well-known astronaut and City College alumna. "It was incredible to meet Katya, she's inspirational and driven but humble at the same time. It was a strange feeling to have met someone who had been to outer space who just casually talked about the weather. I was also truly honored to reflect on the year and the challenges we had as a student body and to be able to encourage my classmates once more."
He concluded, "don’t be afraid to go to any events, join a few clubs, and see your counselor regularly. My counselor was instrumental to my success."
Bethea looks forward to advancing his entrepreneurial skills at CSUSM while staying connected with his alma mater. Building a record label and owning a food franchise focused on international cuisine are just a few plans he plans to accomplish.