Jose Garza
Name Jose Garza
Age: 21
Major: Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Bilingual Studies
College: College of Education
Hometown: Brownsville, Texas
High School: IDEA Brownsville College Preparatory, Brownsville
Why UTRGV?
I chose UTRGV for many reasons. I used to think that it was a university that wasn’t much during the time that I was in high school. You don’t always appreciate what is right in front of you, especially when you are young. As I got closer to graduation I started to notice all of the programs that it had to offer and how much it would benefit me to stay here. Those are my reasons and the fact that it has provided me with what I need and more.
What made you decide on your current major?
I was raised in a household full of teachers; I have since then developed a love of helping to educate the community’s smallest members. I felt like this is the best way I can help my community and children’s futures, I won’t just be an educator but also an inspiration to my students to always be wanting to be better than they were the day before.
What do you hope to achieve beyond completion of your major?
Like I mentioned previously, I want to be an inspiration to my students and make them feel like they can be anything they want to be. I see myself reaching out to as many lives as I can from being a teacher to even becoming a principle or more.
What do you like most about UTRGV?
I feel like the university has given me so much hope in how education can be and how it can be accessed so close to home. For some it may not seem like much but I am very thankful for all the things I have been able to accomplish in my three years here. It isn’t just what it has given me up to now but also what doors it opens to me from a master’s program to getting a job as well. I would also say the professors I’ve had and the difference it has made having smaller classes. I have gotten to meet my professors and classmates much easier this way and develop better networking skills this way.
What does being a Vaquero mean to you?
It means feeling part of the community at UTRGV, I feel like I am part of a family. I am not sure if it is because it is a smaller sized university, but it just feels inclusive and it brings you in so you feel welcome. I feel like that is what the university does whether through mentoring, the organizations, the events, or just the campuses. There is that sense of belonging present.
What opportunities has UTRGV helped you find throughout your community?
I am a mentor for the Freshman Leadership Academy and I am able to have them attend events, help them with a number of things like what to do in their first year, completing the program, and being able to get to know them and be like an older sibling to them in college.
What advice do you have for fellow students pursuing their degrees?
Don’t be afraid to try things, this applies to classes, organizations or even if you are interested in another major. Another thing is don’t limit yourselves and always strive to do better than you did before.