I will always look upon mundane things and find the wondrous and extraordinary secrets within. I’m on a great adventure of discovery.
By Dawn Thacker, SMCC English Faculty
Ariel Aguilera was a member of the South Phoenix and SMCC community, as well as a lifelong learner, a mentor, a student, a colleague, a tutor, a club member, a graduate and an inspiration for the thousands of fellow SMCC community members whose lives he touched.
Ariel started as what we call a “non-traditional” student, and it's a moniker he’d love: he started college in his 40s, and before long, became an honor-roll student, a peer tutor in the SMCC Writing Center, an AA graduate, an administrative assistant in the Communications, Fine Arts and Social Sciences division, and finally, a graduate of Northern Arizona University.
But much more than the titles alone can represent, Ariel gave his heart and soul to the campus and enlivened every classroom, club meeting, campus event and community gathering he stepped foot in.
Ariel’s life wasn’t easy; he'd survived more than his share of loss, setbacks and hurdles. And yet, he was the kind of person who exuded gratitude and sincere joy in being alive, in learning, and in being part of something bigger than himself – something that made him a better version of himself.
He loved this campus and loved being a student, a tutor, an admin assistant and an all-around mentor and motivator for others. He proudly wore the #FirstGen shirt that Student Life gifted him, knowing that it made him a walking billboard for the attainability of big goals.
He poured his energy into earning his bachelor’s degree in order to become a grief counselor; into tutoring students who felt insecure about being in college; and into events and activities that celebrated South Phoenix and its cultures, whether it was the Dia De Los Muertos club events or finals week festivities in the LRC.
When he found out he was terminally ill, he didn’t linger on the unfairness of the shocking diagnosis or express anger. He spoke mostly about everything he was grateful to others for: grateful to have such wonderful daughters and a grandbaby on the way; grateful to all the instructors, colleagues and friends he’d gotten to know at SMCC; and grateful for having spent the last several years transforming his life into one of service, learning, goal setting and growth.
In 2017, Ariel wrote an autobiographical essay about what returning to school at SMCC meant to him, and his words are an unparalleled lens into his heart, talent, mindset and gift.
Ariel Aguilera, BS
1969 - 2025