Myles Riggins has lived all over Lorain County, from the city of Lorain to Elyria to Oberlin. And he’s been around long enough to know there are some things he would like to change. Riggins, 17, plans to lead that change one day.  

“This is my home and I want to fix every problem I see here, from poverty to transportation,” he says. “I want to help turn this place into the place that I want to stay in. For it to be more egalitarian.” 

To Riggins, the solution lies in public policy, and he’s getting an early start. In May 2024, Riggins will graduate from Oberlin High School, while also earning an associate of arts from Lorain County Community College. Riggins got his LCCC start in eighth grade through College Credit Plus and by his junior year of high school, he was taking LCCC classes full time. 

“I like how things work at LCCC,” he says. “I like the way the classes are set up, the independence, the campus, the online options. I haven’t got anything short of a B here.” 

Riggins takes great pride in his grades—he's made the Dean’s List every semester—but for him, the knowledge he’s gained is what matters most.  

“I’ve learned that circumstances are an important thing in people’s lives,” he says. “The zip code that someone is born in—that can be a big determining factor in how they do in life. That’s not fair. I plan on being the guy that does something about it.” 

To learn even more about the external factors that often determine socio-economic status and how to become a changemaker in his community, Riggins is transferring to The Ohio State University. There he plans to earn his Bachelor of Arts in Public Management, Leadership and Policy, and then his Master of Public Administration. With the jump start he got at LCCC, Riggins expects to earn those two degrees in just three years.  

“I already have an associate degree. That’s about two years already done,” he says. 

That works for Riggins, who says the sooner he can get back home and apply what he’s learned, the better.  

“I have a real attachment to Lorain County,” he says. “I grew up here. I care about social issues, and I care about people. That’s my thing.”