Behind the desk are posters of local California teams, including the Giants and 49ers, alongside a large picture of Stephen Curry, all working to cover an office wall. But the decor is partly covered by Josue De Leon’s moving figure as he confers with students. His hands are often gesturing as he speaks, working to mold his thoughts into shapes as he works at his mission to become the mentor he never had. De Leon says he wants students to look at him and think, “If he could do it, I can do it.”
Growing up, De Leon wanted to become a probation officer. “We went on a field trip to College of Marin, and one of the people who stood out to me was a police officer. So I held on to them,” says De Leon. He didn’t know why until he realized it was one of the ways to protect the community. “If I didn’t want to be in law enforcement, probation would probably be the best thing because they also help people get back on their feet,” says De Leon. He switched to political science for a semester at Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) but quickly went back to Administration of Justice after realizing it wasn’t where his interests were.
During his summer transition from SRJC to Sacramento State University (SAC State), De Leon joined a development program called Career Explorers, which connects students with internships in local government and community agencies. He was directed to the Marin County Probation Department, where he was directly involved with youth and adult rehabilitation efforts. “Probation is a mix of law and social work,” explains De Leon.
The internship was supposed to last six weeks, but De Leon stayed longer and was promoted to Program Assistant Coordinator in his second year at the center. Through that position, he helped youth aged from 15 to 21 who faced background barriers, find internships across Marin County. This experience shook his perspective, “I think I would enjoy working with youth better. I should be working in a youth program or something,” says De Leon.
His definition of community is simple: safety, connection, and reliability. “It’s important to have a community,” says De Leon with his hair tied in a low bun and a beard drooping below his chin. “You could do it yourself, but it’s important to have others.”
After earning his bachelor’s degree, De Leon thought about what mattered most to him. De Leon recalled his high school experience; he knew what it was like to feel lost, not knowing what to do. In September 2025, he joined the Huckleberry Youth Program (HYP) as a college advisor for San Rafael and Terra Linda High students. “I want to be back in my community. I want to be a resource for first-generation students who don’t know anything about college,” says De Leon. “Whether that’s a youth program, probation, I just want to be a resource.”
De Leon grew up in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood and graduated from San Rafael High School (SRHS) in 2018. As a first-generation student, he always knew college was expected of him, but he never really felt connected to the idea of going. “It felt like a mold we had to fit in,” says De Leon. Even though he wasn’t interested in achieving a higher education, “I still tried,” he says. Back then, he didn’t look for resources or help; “I didn’t really care about school,” he admits. “I did the bare minimum to graduate.”
“Sophomore and junior years were my best years of high school,” says De Leon. His football coach pushed him to raise his grades so he could join and stay on the team, and even held study sessions after practice. “He was the one who mentored a lot of us. He’s the one who told us grades were important,” says De Leon.
But when his coach left after being diagnosed with cancer, De Leon’s motivation disappeared. He stopped caring about school and barely got through senior year. De Leon’s determination to stay on the football team also slimmed to zero: “He’s not there, I don’t want to play.”
After graduating, De Leon enrolled at SRJC, majoring in Administration of Justice. He remembers feeling lost on his first day, “God, I don’t know where I’m at. I don’t know what I’m doing, it kind of felt like a dream,” says De Leon. Neither good nor bad, everything was different; he didn’t feel prepared.
When his coach died during his first semester at SRJC, De Leon thought it was just his old teammate joking around, until he saw social media posts about the coach’s passing. Surprisingly, that motivated him to continue his college career. “He was one of the reasons why I’m here. I’m going to do it for my family, and I’ll do it for him,” says De Leon.
Then in 2020, COVID hit. De Leon’s education paused for over a year as he worked 40 to 60 hours a week in customer service, “I was working, and I’m like, yeah, I’m not doing this,” says De Leon. “So I’m like, alright, education is important.”
He returned to online classes in 2021, this time with purpose. He joined SRJC’s speech and debate team, where he learned public speaking and found a community on campus. “It helped me stay on track with school,” says De Leon. “I work better when I’m surrounded by people.”
By 2023, De Leon had graduated from SRJC with honors every semester and transferred to Sacramento State, where he majored in Criminal Justice. He continued to pass every semester with honors and graduated Cum Laude (an honor awarded to undergrads) in 2025. “When the flip switched, I noticed it was important, then I went all out,” says De Leon. “Everything is possible if you know what you want.”
When asked why he chose this path instead of law enforcement, De Leon pauses, then says, “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t care.” He continues, “ I already have my four-year degree, I could do something else. But I’ve been there. I know the struggles, so I want to be a resource for others,” says De Leon, tossing a small squishy football in between his hands.
This role feels right because, for De Leon, it’s a full-circle moment. A way to guide and protect his community in a way probation work can’t. Students could see themselves in him, someone who went to San Rafael High, someone who lived in the Canal neighborhood, someone in their world who made it to college and came back to help lead them.
Uriel Ortiz, a senior at SRHS and a student of De Leon, felt inspired to give college a try. Ortiz wanted to attend SRJC after knowing that De Leon had graduated from there. De Leon influenced his decision because Ortiz related to him, “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to college, but Josue went, so I wanted to give it a try. I’ve been asking him for help,” says Ortiz.
Although he admits he didn’t go out of his way looking for support, “I wished someone had reached out,” says De Leon. Seeing students doubting whether college is for them and not knowing what to expect from the future reminds him of his younger self.
As a college advisor at HYP, he helps first-generation students with everything from college applications to financial aid. His goal is to connect with students and let them know that he can help them. “You can’t say college isn’t for you without trying it,” says De Leon. “Even if it’s not a lot, if they show just a little bit of effort, I can work with that.”
