Cornelius Sublette

Name: Cornelius Sublette
Age: 20
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Houston

Why UTRGV?
I was a Coordinated Admission Program (CAP) student for UT Austin. CAP allows a student who completes a year at a UT System school with a 3.2 GPA or above to have automatic acceptance into UT Austin.  However, I got into the groove of the UTRGV environment and decided to stay. There are a lot of benefits to a smaller campus. It makes it a lot easier to get around to my classes and allows more one-on-one time with your professors. I find it extremely encouraging that your professor remembers your name or actually has time to go get lunch with you. Also, the merger between UTPA and UTB/TSC has also created more opportunities and positive changes for the future. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

What made you decide on your current major?
I enjoy making people laugh and helping them to get better. My mom works in a hospital, and she always tells me about the “nurse-to-patient” bonds she makes. Meeting new people and creating new relationships is my specialty. I also really love anatomy; the way the body works is super interesting to me. Hormones, erythrocytes, and leukocytes! Oh my! UTRGV also has a really great nursing program with the faculty to match. I am sure that graduating from UTRGV with my bachelor’s in nursing will take me to where I want to be. 

What are your plans after graduation?
I’m not entirely sure what my plans are after graduation. I have, however, thought about joining the military as a military nurse.

What are you involved in on and off campus?
I am a resident assistant for Residence Life. I acquaint residents who live in the dorms with on-campus services and promote a positive community living experience. Being an RA is a life changing experience. It helped me find out what I was good at: building community, helping people get through problems by providing alternatives, and, my favorite, just being a friend, especially to those new to campus. As a former peer educator for the HIV/STI and Substance Abuse Prevention Program, I helped raise campus awareness of HIV and other STIs by promoting safe sex practices and the consequence of irresponsible drinking and paraphernalia use.

What is your biggest accomplishment to date?
I think that just being able to get into college is an accomplishment itself. Not everyone has the same opportunity. Congratulate yourself for making it this far. Also, becoming a college graduate and a person others can look up to is also an important achievement for me.  I’m not the same person that I was two years ago; I am smarter, I am stronger, and I am a leader.

What advice do you have for future students?

I think the best advice I can give is to take a deep breath and figure out how things work the best for you. My time management skills aren’t the best, and I am not too organized, but I’m still able to make it onto the Dean’s List because I learned to figure out who I am and what ways are the best for me to tackle and accomplish tasks.