Deutra L. Gamboa-Haith knows what it means to rebuild, as someone experienced in mending both structures and the course of his own life.
Now pursuing his associate degree in Visual Arts at Roxbury Community College, he plans to transfer to Massachusetts College of Art and Design after graduation to become a commercial artist. His journey to the studio, however, was anything but conventional. Before art became his profession, construction was his craft.
A graduate of New Bedford Vocational Technical High School, Gamboa-Haith trained in carpentry and built a successful career in the field. His career began with work that required precision, discipline, and vision. He has worked as a Foreman on major projects, including the Martha’s Vineyard Library. For years, he helped build spaces that would serve communities for generations.
Then everything changed.
A near-fatal motor vehicle accident abruptly halted his carpentry career. The physical demands of the trade were no longer sustainable, forcing him to reconsider not only his job but also his future. Instead of retreating, Gamboa-Haith pivoted.
Creativity had always been part of his life. Over the years, he developed his artistic skills, working as a tattoo artist and refining his illustration style. What began as a personal passion, despite setbacks like his accident, soon revealed itself in a viable new direction, showing that pursuing passions can lead to new opportunities.
At RCC, he committed fully to that shift.
As a Visual Arts student, Gamboa-Haith immersed himself in his coursework while simultaneously exploring the business side of his talent. With support from the college’s Business Innovation Center, he launched a small business centered on his artwork. What started as an idea quickly gained traction. Today, he is building a reputation as a successful cartoonist, transforming his illustrations into income and opportunity.
The transition from construction sites to drawing boards may seem dramatic, but the throughline is clear. Deutra is a craftsman. Whether working with wood or ink, Gamboa-Haith approaches his art with the same discipline and attention to detail that once defined his carpentry, encouraging others to value dedication.
He credits RCC not just for strengthening his artistic skills, but for helping him think like an entrepreneur. Access to mentorship, business guidance, and institutional support gave him the structure he needed to turn talent into sustainability.
For students considering their own leap, his advice is simple and direct: “Ask for help,” and actively seek out resources, mentorship, and opportunities to grow.
It’s a lesson earned through experience. Reinvention doesn’t happen in isolation. Gamboa-Haith understands that progress often requires vulnerability and seeking support from professors, advisors, mentors, and campus resources, which can inspire confidence in others to do the same.
His journey is a reminder that setbacks, like his accident, can be viewed as opportunities for growth and reinvention, not just endings.
What could have been an ending became a beginning. A career cut short became the catalyst for a new one. From framing walls to framing stories through illustration, he continues to construct something lasting. And today, as he prepares for the next step at MassArt, Gamboa-Haith is building a future shaped by resilience, creativity, and courage.
