Friday, Dec. 6 | Student Services (Counseling, Enrollment Services, Financial Aid)
offices will be closed for training. We will open again Monday at 8:30am.
Looking back to his first day at OCC as a shy 13-year-old to now, Niko Speck has grown
as a student leader and early college superstar. He graduates from OCC this month
with four degrees and an engineering future in sight.
Unsure of his path at first, this young Oakland Early College (OEC) student found his engineering vocation at OCC, while pursuing his many other interests.
“I was 13 when I started college, so I went through puberty while I was here,” said
Speck, who graduates in May with four college degrees. “It was a little intimidating
being around 20-year-olds when you’re 13. I was two feet shorter then.”
Speck is graduating with degrees in Pre-engineering, Science, Arts and General Studies.
He was interested in OCC’s dual enrollment program at a young age because he had an
older sibling who completed the program. His family also helped to influence his career
path.
“I come from a family of automotive engineers,” he said. “I was always good at math
and have been in advanced classes since middle school, but I wasn’t completely sold
on engineering since I wasn’t interested in the automotive field."
Lot of interests and a handful of career considerations
Unsure of what he wanted to do, Speck took courses in engineering, general education
and more as he explored his options. Since he was good at math, he considered a career
in accounting, but said it wasn’t the right fit. Music, on the other hand, was something
that called to him. He took several of these courses as well. Ultimately, he decided
on pursuing a career in engineering.
“Through my engineering courses, I learned about many opportunities in the field outside
of automotive – and the Pre-engineering program had the core subjects I like. It’s
a nice base for all types of engineering degrees,” he said. “Even though I chose to
go this route, I was able to pursue my music passion, including playing piano at student
showcases.”
Younger than most
Speck faced other challenges besides being younger than most students and trying to
nail down what he wanted to do. He was also shy.
“I used to be very quiet and sit in the back of the class,” Speck said. “It took me
a while to get out of my shell! My pre-engineering classes were small, which made
it easier to meet people with similar career goals. When I started working outside
of school as a barista, I had to get really chatty, really fast.”
He worked at a coffee shop in the mornings and took classes at night. He learned how
to balance “everything,” including many extracurricular interests outside of music.
Once he got over his shyness, Speck kicked into overdrive.
He served as President of his high school’s National Honor Society and worked as a
supplemental physics instructor. He also served as Vice President of the Queer Pride
Club and as a member of HOSA-Future Health Professionals as well as the Chess Club.
In addition, he worked as an intern for the University of Michigan Adolescent Health
Initiative and as a pharmacy technician at CVS.
“I found a way to do all of this and enjoy life, while still getting my schoolwork
done,” said Speck. “It was a lot to take on but worth it! It made me feel more empowered
for the future.”
“You need to be your own catalyst”
When he looks at where he was when he enrolled in OEC, to where he’s at now, five
years later, Speck reflects on the dramatic ways his life has changed. He sees this
in scientific terms.
“I think of change as a catalyst,” he said. “Life has possibilities, and no matter
what your interests are, you can achieve anything. You need to be your own catalyst
if you want to make a change. There’s also entropy, the natural state of disorder
in the world. You need to embrace this disorder – and be open to being changed.”
Speck notes that when you do this, you never know what’s going to happen. For him,
it meant finding a scientific career he didn’t know he wanted, and realizing that
along the way, you don’t need to do it alone.
“Professors were great with office hours, and librarians were very helpful,” he said.
“The head of OCC’s pre-engineering program also helped me with my college applications
and encouraged me to get a research position at the University of Michigan, where
I’ll start this fall.”
At U of M, Speck will pursue a bachelor’s in engineering physics with a concentration
in chemical engineering.
His ultimate goal? Get his PhD and then work as a professor and conduct his own research
– while continuing to pursue his many (and expanding) interests.
“I’m proud of my education, but it just defines one aspect of me,” he said. “Lately,
I’ve been into growing plants and making my own sourdough bread. Someday, I’d like
to open my own coffee shop.”
Niko Speck is graduating at age 18 with four college degrees with an Associate in Science, Associate in Arts, Associate in General Studies and a Pre-Engineering Associate of Applied Science, He’s looking forward to continuing to learn new things about himself as he pursues
advanced degrees at one of the nation’s top universities. Speck joins more than 1,800
OCC 2024 graduates empowered to succeed. Join them in starting your someday, today.