When a guidance counselor told Aaron Jenkins and his mother that he probably wouldn’t graduate and should start looking into trade schools, the high school freshman dropped out.
“That was such a defeating moment in my young brain,” Aaron said.
Still, he immediately went to his local library, where he picked up a copy of the “GED Test Prep” textbook and began studying. Aaron earned his GED certificate, but because of the high school dropout stigma, he says he was still “made to think that I wasn’t all that bright.” So he leaned into the only talent he believed he possessed: audio production and engineering.
In his early 20s, Aaron earned an Associate of Science degree in Audio Engineering and spent the next decade or so working as a record producer and audio engineer in Los Angeles. That was until he received a phone call from Arizona that changed everything. His father, who lives here in the Valley with his mother, was hospitalized in a diabetic coma.
“That sent shock waves down my spine,” Aaron said. “I came home for a visit, where we sat down and had a long talk about life and ultimately agreed that it would be mutually beneficial for me to move home so I could assist with his day-to-day care.”
Aaron moved to the Phoenix area in 2022 and had zero intention of continuing his academic journey, he says, because he didn’t think he could do anything outside of music. But then his father casually mentioned that psychology might be a good fit for him.
“I said, ‘Eh, why not? I’ll at least look into it,’” Aaron said. “So I began researching online classes pertaining to psychology to get an understanding of what psychology even consisted of.”
He decided to test the waters with a few online certificate courses, such as social psychology and introduction to psychology, and did very well.
“That gave me the confidence I needed to actually sign up for school,” he said, adding that Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) was a no-brainer.
“My youngest sister enrolled at EMCC and once she told me about it, I decided to drive over and sign up right away,” he said. “It was the best decision I have ever made — I have met so many amazing people who truly care about education and want to see the students succeed.”
One of those people is his academic mentor, Psychology Professor Dr. Erica Wager. Dr Wager met Aaron in the summer of 2024, his first semester at EMCC, when he signed up for her Introduction to Psychology course.
“Aaron stood out immediately as the only online student who regularly attended virtual office hours to talk about psychology in depth,” Dr. Wager said. “Since then, he has taken my in-person Biopsychology class, where he excelled, and he is currently enrolled in my Statistics for Psychology course, where he continues to perform at the highest level.”
Since then, he has also been invited to the Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa, joined the Psychology Club, become a Peer Leader, and, most recently, been named a Dougherty Foundation Scholar, earning a check for $1,000.
“Honestly, I almost broke into tears in the Honors Program office in Estrella Hall when I was told that I’d be receiving the scholarship,” Aaron said. “From being told that I wasn't going to make it to [high school] graduation to now holding a 4.0 GPA and sitting on multiple honors societies, this feels like such a huge win not only for myself but for my family, for those who were just as crushed as I was emotionally in a moment like that.”
Dr. Wager said Aaron is incredibly deserving of the award because he embodies the Dougherty Foundation’s mission of supporting Arizona students in pursuing brighter futures through education.
“He has maintained a 4.0 GPA in rigorous courses, presented research at a professional psychology conference in Las Vegas, and consistently seeks out opportunities for growth,” Dr. Wager said. “At the same time, he has shown tremendous resilience by balancing academic excellence with caring for his father’s health needs, working in the EMCC Peer Leader program, and engaging in multiple clubs. He is precisely the type of student the Dougherty Foundation was designed to support: motivated, high-achieving, community-minded, and committed to making the most of his opportunities.”
Aaron is set to graduate from EMCC this spring and go on to Arizona State University to earn his bachelor’s and master’s before pursuing a doctorate in Neuropsychology. When he’s not immersed in EMCC life, Aaron spends time with Chloe and Carlisle, his toy poodles, whom he calls the loves of his life, and helps his mother, whom he calls the family’s true superhero, take care of his father.
“Honestly, I feel very honored to be able to be of service to my parents,” Aaron said. “Not just because they gave me life, but because of their unwavering support in my life.”