(HARLINGEN) – TSTC student Omar Duran is currently studying Culinary Arts and hopes to bring his talents to a school district after graduation.  The 43-year-old Army veteran boasts a highly impressive 3.7 grade-point average and will be graduating in the Fall of 2018.

What are your plans after graduation?

 I look forward to starting my civilian career.  Ultimately, I would love to work with the La Feria school district because that’s where I’m from.

What’s your dream job?

 I hope to become the supervisor in charge of the food distribution in the district.

 What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

 Succeeding at math has been an accomplishment for me.  A lot of people are afraid of it, and in my degree plan you have to take math or biology, so I decided to challenge myself by taking math.  In culinary arts, you deal with a lot of numbers, so I’m really proud of everything I’ve learned.

 What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

Coming back to school in general has been a lesson for me.  I took different avenues and did 20 years in the military, so being around a bunch of younger people made me contemplate my priorities, but I’m here now, and I love it.

Name a TSTC person who most influenced your success.

 All my fellow veterans in the Veteran’s Center have helped me out so much.  If someone is having problems with an assignment, they help you out.  My confidence is so high right now because of the support that I’m getting from everybody there.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

 Learn everything that you can while you’re in school and make sure your priorities are always straight.  Getting your education is so important!