Kirt King, pictured here, teaches art and multimedia at Willow International Center, a mini-community college campus in northeast Fresno where classes have started. I wrote a story today on the campus breaking enrollment projections and moving toward becoming a full-fledged community college.

Officials say students like Willow International because of its faculty, and King was a welcoming presence on the first day of a photography course. As he called roll, he paused after each name and said "welcome" to each student. He also told students: "I love my job. I love what I do. I do it for you guys."

King, 36, said one of the missions of a community college is to help students who aren't sure what to do with their lives. By creating a positive classroom atmosphere, he believes he can help students find confidence to sort out their choices. King told students that he welcomes class discussions, and he challenged them to think: "I always love informed opinions."