New Hope: NVC Student Rebuilds His Life One Semester at a Time

This summer, Milo Stubbs is doing something that would have seemed unlikely just a couple of years ago. In 2024, the 39-year-old was living at Haven for Hope, the San Antonio nonprofit dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness transform their lives. Today, Stubbs is enrolled at NVC, studying network administration and working toward a promising future.

It’s not his first time on an Alamo Colleges campus. The San Antonio native first enrolled at NVC in 2007 and has explored a wide range of academic interests over the years. Along with network administration, he has studied game design. Before returning to NVC, he also explored culinary arts at St. Philip’s College.

After spending nearly a year at Haven for Hope while navigating personal challenges, he was able to access the support, including employment and housing assistance, needed to regain stability so that he could continue his education.

This past spring, Stubbs enrolled in his first online networking class at NVC. He credits tutors and the wraparound support services he received at the NVC Student Advocacy and Resource Center with helping him succeed at Vista. The center provides students with free groceries, clothing, mental health counseling, and more.

“I came to the counseling center here at the Advocacy Center, and they were able to hear my heart and listen to the struggles I was facing at that time,” he said.

Since returning to NVC, Stubbs recalled that one of his greatest moments was when he found out he had earned an A in his networking class. “I rubbed my eyes to make sure I was seeing it correctly. I was shocked.”

Stubbs hopes to graduate in 2027 and pursue a career as a network technician or apply his technical skills within the video game industry. He advises others facing similar challenges to pray consistently, stay focused, and persevere.

“I would encourage anyone experiencing homelessness, staying at Haven for Hope, and also attending Northwest Vista College not to give up,” said Stubbs. “There will be challenges, I’ve faced those, but continue to work hard, review your assignments, ask your instructors for help, go to tutoring, and stay on top of the assignments. Even when it’s difficult and you want to throw in the towel, keep going.”