(HARLINGEN) – Richard Gonzalez is a student at Texas State Technical College working to complete his General Academic Core.
The Los Fresnos native holds a 3.0 grade-point average and said that being enrolled in TSTC’s Dual Enrollment program during high school helped him tremendously in his transition.
When Gonzalez is not studying, he can be found volunteering as an umpire or in concession stands during baseballs games held in his hometown.
What are your plans a
fter graduation?
I plan on finishing my basics and transferring to Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Kingsville, or Del Mar College to pursue a degree in child, clinical, or evolutionary psychology.
What is your dream job?
My dream job is to become a psychologist and help children and adults suffering from mental illness. And there is one more thing I’ve always dreamed of doing, and that is becoming a pilot and flying the planes that put out large fires.
What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?
One of my accomplishments was finishing a five-page paper the night before it was due. It was a valuable lesson in time management and the importance of not procrastinating anymore.
What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?
I’ve learned that no one is going to give you everything you want in life. You have to go out, work for it and get it. You must strive for greatness.
Who at TSTC has most influenced your success?
Danira Cantu, my English instructor, has been an instrumental person to my success. Because of her I have improved in my ability to write college essays, which will always be a major part of my college career. She reminds me of my sister, making it easy to talk to her and ask her any questions I may have.
What is your advice for future TSTC students?
I want to tell students to focus on completing all of their work with plenty of time to spare instead of rushing to finish it last minute and turning in mediocre work. It’s been a tough lesson for me to learn, and I want to advise other students against procrastinating.