"It's a path that Chris Tomasso, CEO of the $1 billion in revenue breakfast-and-lunch chain First Watch, also took. Before finishing his bachelor's degree at University of Central Florida, Tomasso started closer to home at Manatee Community College-a move that, he said, came down to simple math. "It really was just a business decision for me," Tomasso told Fortune. "That's the way I looked at it. Not only do those four-year universities cost more, I would have housing costs if I went away.""
"Starting at a community college allowed him to save money while staying on track academically. "Are there trade-offs to that? Sure," Tomasso said. "I had a blast at UCF, and looking back now, I wish I would have been able to go there for four years, but it just wasn't in the cards for me, and it wasn't a reality. So, I got there in probably the best way I could.""
"At a time when student-loan debt has ballooned to $1.65 trillion, Tomasso has a message for Gen Z: prestige isn't everything-and you can pace your pathway to success. "Don't let ego get in the way," Tomasso said. "I look at folks beyond their resume and say do they have that-the fortitude to do whatever it takes, basically, to put themselves in a position to be successful?""
Several prominent figures began at community colleges, illustrating alternative entry points to major careers. Chris Tomasso began at Manatee Community College before finishing his bachelor's at the University of Central Florida. He chose community college for financial reasons, citing tuition and housing costs. He later acknowledged he enjoyed UCF and would have liked four years there but accepted community college as the most realistic path. Rising student-loan debt of $1.65 trillion underlines the financial stakes for students. Tomasso advises Gen Z to prioritize practical choices over prestige and values fortitude and resourcefulness, exemplified by taking jobs to enable internship opportunities.
Read at Fortune
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