Student Success Profile – Ayman Agharbi
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Ayman Agharbi graduated from Texas State Technical College with an associate degree in Graphics Gaming and Simulation Programming and is now completing prerequisite classes for a bachelor’s degree in the field of computers.
The Harlingen native is also a math tutor at the TSTC Learning Resource Center, helping students understand everything from basic math to calculus.
What are your plans after graduation?
After completing my classes here at TSTC, I plan on transferring to Texas A&M University in College Station to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering.
What’s your dream job?
My dream job is to work with a hardware development company like Intel, the world’s largest manufacturer of computer processors, and develop the software they need for their technology.
What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?
There are two things I consider a great accomplishment. The first is earning my associate degree; it’s a step in the right direction for my future and my career. Second are the leadership skills I have gained at TSTC by working with Instructional Tutoring. The experience and lessons I have learned are invaluable, have helped me grow as a person and are lessons I will carry with me throughout my life.
What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?
The greatest lesson I have learned is the importance of an education. In my first year of college, I was not focused or even into getting an education. It wasn’t until I started doing research on successful people, with and without an education, that I realized that it was going to be difficult to get through life without a formal education.
Who at TSTC has had the most influence on your success?
There are so many people at TSTC that have influenced me and my success: first and foremost my father, Mohamed Agharbi, who is an associate professor of mathematics, and of course my supervisors and mentors, Norma Salazar and Linda Barron. They have all guided me, pushed me and given me opportunities.
What is your advice for future TSTC students?
My advice for future TSTC students is to learn time management, take advantage of the tutoring services TSTC offers and, most importantly — something I had to learn the hard way — don’t be afraid to ask questions. My first year of college was challenging just because I was afraid to ask about things I didn’t understand or know, but honestly that’s the only way things make sense sometimes.
