What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I plan to start working as a Spanish teacher at the public school level, but I also want to look into the opportunity to teach at the community college level. After obtaining a couple of years of experience, I plan to leave the Valley to attend UT Austin where I will obtain my doctorate in Spanish.

Do you plan to return to the Valley?

After having completed my doctoral studies in Austin, and seeing that this Valley has done so much for me, my future desire is to return to the Valley and contribute to its growth as a way of paying back for what it gave to me. I want to be a part of the potential growth of this region academically.

What has your education done for you?

My university education has allowed me to see the world in a different way. It has allowed me to see how things function within the university, and it has also permitted me to create contacts with people in the education field. My education has also allowed me to expand on my previous knowledge, which gives me the upper hand for when I start teaching.

How do you feel about your UTPA experience?

UTPA is a great institution. It is a university that is rich in history and tradition, but it is also one that in the last couple of years has been growing and becoming more competitive, and I feel honored to be a part of all that. I am indebted to this university. I have been able to establish good friendships with my professors, and they all have helped me in becoming a better person. I would not be the person I am today had it not been for everything that this university has done for me.

What is your best tip for success?

To always aim for the long shot. To never give up from what you know you are capable of achieving. If somebody tells you that you cannot do it, really what they mean is “I know you can do it” and allow it to push you to do it. To realize that the best way to guarantee you a future full of progress and prosperity, not only for yourself, but also for the people you most care about, is through an education.

What advice do you have for college-bound students?

Establish good friendships with your professors, who you can always count on whenever you need any help. Become involved in university life, as well as many of the organizations that it offers. Always make sure that your voice is being heard for only in that way will change come.