(HARLINGEN) – Last night 438 students graduated with certificates or associate degrees from Texas State Technical College during two commencement ceremonies held at the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium.
Among them, Computer Networking and Security Technology students and best friends Elizabeth Vargas and Sondra Baldivia – the only women to earn an associate degree in the program this semester.
“This is a big deal for my family, I’m the first to graduate from college and the one they least expected to do it,” Vargas said with a laugh. “This is a proud moment for all of us.”
With a toddler at home and another on the way, the 27-year-old admits finishing the program was a challenge.
“It’s been a lot of sacrifice. I’ve been having health issues with this pregnancy that have landed me on bed rest, but honestly my instructors have been great. So understanding. That’s why I’m here today.”
Vargas, who worked menial odd jobs to support her family and herself through school, has already accepted an offer with the University of Texas System as an assistant administrator for the Information Technology Department.
“I’m so excited for this opportunity I have been given,” said Vargas. “It’s a life changer and it’s all because of TSTC. I now have “the job” I’ve been working for and I’ll be able to better support my family and grow as a professional.”
Baldivia, a United States Air Force veteran, said she had already attempted a four-year degree before attending TSTC, but had changed majors so many times she got discouraged and enlisted instead.
“I was seeing everyone around me graduate and realized that in that point in time I needed to reevaluate my life,” said Baldivia. “And the Air Force offered me the best path.”
Based in Maryland during her four-year contract, the 28-year-old worked as a Signals Analyst with the intelligence team and although she loved her job, Baldivia and her husband found it was best to move their family back home.
“By this time we had a daughter and she didn’t know her grandparents or any other parts of the extended family, so it was the best move for us, but I had to start all over again.”
She said fortunate for her, TSTC had the program that fit with the experience she had received in the Air Force.
“Computer Networking and Security Technology has really laid the foundation for a successful career in the cyber field,” she said.
Baldivia hopes to work once again in intelligence as a contractor for the Air Force or even the FBI and hopes to return to school to earn a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology.
It is students like Vargas and Baldivia that TSTC Regent and Chief Executive Officer of the Mission Economic Development Corporation Alejandro Meade said makes his job easier.
“You make my job easier. TSTC makes my job easier,” Meade told the graduates. “The more skilled employees a community has, the more prosperous it can be and the more graduates TSTC has, the easier it is for me to sell the Valley to companies.”
He added, “Simply by gaining skills, you are adding value to the Valley and to the state. For that I am thankful.”
Meade also shared life lessons with the graduates: Work hard, don’t be afraid to fail, appreciate where you come from and abide by the Golden Rule, “treat others as you would be treated.”
As for Vargas and Baldivia, they both celebrated the night with their families and had a message for all the young girls and women who want to pursue a career in Computer Networking and Security but are intimidated to enter a male-dominated field.
“Don’t be afraid. Your class will honestly and truly become your family and support system,” said Baldivia. “We may have been the only women in the class, but we were always treated as equals and the men looked to us for help.”
Vargas added, “It may be a man’s world, but we can do it also, sometimes better. So don’t be afraid, let’s take their jobs.”
For more information on Computer Networking and Security Technology at TSTC, visit tstc.edu.
Registration for Summer and Fall 2018 is in progress.