​​While incarcerated, Jahaziel Sanchez discovered a passion for education and earned multiple associate degrees. After receiving an early release, he learned to navigate more than a decade of technological advancements and to overcome impostor syndrome. 

Today, Jahaziel is enrolled in San Diego State’s combined bachelor’s/master’s degree accountancy program. He is on the dean’s list and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Hispanic Business Student Association and the American Association for Hispanics in Higher Education. Through SDSU’s Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, Jahaziel launched an event-photography business. In addition to mentoring formerly incarcerated individuals as part of Project Rebound, he is the co-founder of a registered nonprofit that aims to assist justice-impacted communities in attaining financial independence through entrepreneurship. 

Jahaziel plans to work as a certified public accountant.