Ismael Garcia's story includes a lot of firsts.
First in his family to graduate high school. First to attend college. First to earn a college degree. First to own a business.
But none of it came with a roadmap.
"I didn't have a lot of resources with my parents and family because many of them did not go to college, so I had to figure this all out myself," Garcia said. "But now that I look back at it, the things that I thought were tough were actually some of the biggest blessings.”
His decision to enroll at College of Western Idaho (CWI) would shape more than Garcia's own future. It would influence how he approaches work, risk, and responsibility, while showing others around him what was possible.
Garcia grew up in a close-knit family as the oldest of five children. His father worked on a farm, his mother stayed home, and everyone helped where they could. By the time he was 12, Garcia was driving tractors and working alongside his younger brother in the fields.
"Growing up in Homedale, you feel like you're restricted because you don't have a lot of people in your town," Garcia said. "But the values that you get from growing up in Homedale are really important because you learn about hard work, you learn about faith and you're surrounded by your family and friends."
The long days on the farm taught Garcia lessons that would follow him into college and eventually into business.
"When I started going to college and when I started working at an office, my work ethic, I think came from those times when I was on a tractor," Garcia said.
That work ethic proved essential. Garcia worked full time, attended classes full time, and continued helping on the farm on weekends while pursuing his education.
Through determination and hard work, Garcia earned an associate degree in Business at CWI before completing a bachelor's degree at Boise State University.
As a first-generation student, Garcia chose CWI because it offered something he needed: an affordable path to higher education without sacrificing quality.
"CWI provides you with an opportunity to get a leg up," Garcia said. "The same English 101 that you get at a four-year school, you can get here for a fraction of the price. You get a true one-on-one connection with your professors."
Garcia chose business because he wanted an education that could be applied in almost any career. Through coursework in finance, marketing, communication, and business fundamentals, he developed practical skills that continue to shape his work today.
"Being able to understand the finances behind a decision, how to build a website, how to market a product or service, and how to communicate and work with others were key things that I learned at CWI," Garcia said.
The personal connections he made at CWI proved just as valuable as the lessons he learned in the classroom.
One accounting instructor challenged students to job shadow someone outside their current workplace. Garcia was reluctant at first, but the assignment pushed him to connect with financial professionals he otherwise never would have met.
"I was able to network with a lot of financial professionals," Garcia said. "I've had job offers from several of them now at this point, all because I chose to listen to him and reached out to people. I got out there, and it has led me to all the opportunities I have now in life. "
Those connections, combined with the confidence he gained through school, helped launch a career in financial services.
Today, at 24, Garcia owns Garcia Financial Planning in Meridian, where he helps clients navigate investments, retirement planning, and long-term financial goals. However, what he enjoys most is teaching.
"People want to know the basics," Garcia said. "People want to be talked to like they're human beings. I like helping people understand what's going on and feel confident about their decisions."
That mindset extends beyond his clients. Garcia regularly returns to Homedale to speak with students, especially those who may be the first in their family to consider college.
His success has also expanded what feels possible at home. One of his brothers has graduated from the University of Idaho, another is currently attending CWI, and Garcia hopes the younger children in the family will pursue their own educational goals.
"If you're first generation, be proud of it. That is what makes you unique. No one can write that story for you," Garcia said.
For Garcia, CWI was more than an affordable place to start college. It was where college became real and where the direction of his life began to take shape.
"Because of CWI, I'm a first-generation college student, a first-generation college graduate, debt free, and a first-time business owner in my family because of the lessons and foundations that I had at CWI," Garcia said. "If there's two words that I could say to CWI, it's thank you."
From finance and marketing to communication and leadership, the skills Garcia developed at CWI continue to shape the way he serves clients and runs his business today. Students interested in exploring careers in business can learn more about CWI's Business and Management pathway and where it might take them.
