{"id":1972,"date":"2017-08-28T21:33:46","date_gmt":"2017-08-28T21:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/?p=1972"},"modified":"2017-08-28T21:58:04","modified_gmt":"2017-08-28T21:58:04","slug":"tstc-graduate-finds-second-lease-on-life-at-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/?p=1972","title":{"rendered":"TSTC Graduate Finds Second Lease on Life at College"},"content":{"rendered":"

(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College has given Auto Collision Technology student Refugio Cazares a second chance after losing his freedom and nearly his life several years ago.<\/p>\n

Cazares, a Harlingen native, will receive a certificate II in Auto Collision, making him one of nearly 400 students who will receive a certificate or associate degree tonight at TSTC\u2019s Summer 2017 commencement ceremonies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never thought I\u2019d be where I am today,\u201d he said. \u201cIt feels good knowing that I\u2019m working my way to being a better person for myself, for my family and for my 4-year-old daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was 2004 when Cazares left TSTC and moved to Missouri to work in a cotton farm, then in a steel mill where he was quickly being promoted, but alcohol ruined his chances of a future there.\"Refugio<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI was, in a way, having my own pity party,\u201d he said. \u201cMy life was spiraling down fast and drinking was my escape. I was out of control.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slowly his family created a distance, he broke his back in a car accident and was bedridden for three months and after numerous DWI\u2019s and losing his driver\u2019s license he ended up in prison for two years.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing in prison opened up my eyes and made me realize I needed to change to my life,\u201d said Cazares.<\/p>\n

He credits God and his mother for the lifestyle change he has undergone. And although each day has its own struggle he is proud of the person he is becoming.<\/p>\n

\u201cI take one day at a time,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are still people that look down on me for my past, but I don\u2019t let that negativity get to me. I have a goal and I won\u2019t throw away my future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cazares hopes to someday work in the auto collision industry, an interest he picked up from the men in his family. He wants to either work at an auto collision center, be an auto collision instructor or even build his own business.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod willing I will find what I\u2019m looking for out in industry,\u201d he said. \u201cUltimately, my goal is to find a place where I can use my skills and also be a leader and role model for others.\u201d<\/p>\n

For now, Cazares is searching for a part-time job where he can practice what he has learned, but still have time for school because he will be returning to TSTC in the fall to pursue an associate degree in his field.<\/p>\n

TSTC Auto Collision Instructor Jose Vasquez said he commends Cazares for taking the initiative of returning to college and pursuing a certification and degree despite the challenges he has faced.<\/p>\n

\u201cRefugio is an outstanding student. He has A\u2019s and B\u2019s and always willing to lend a helping hand,\u201d said Vasquez. \u201cEveryone deserves a second chance and he is working hard to better himself. I know he has all the potential he needs to be successful in the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Overall, Cazares said his experience at TSTC has been amazing and has opened new doors of opportunities for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m leaving my past in the past and looking toward the future, and TSTC will get me to where I want to be,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

TSTC\u2019s Commencement Ceremonies are tonight at the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

For more information on Auto Collision Technology or to apply at TSTC visit tstc.edu.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College has given Auto Collision Technology student Refugio Cazares a second chance after losing his freedom and nearly his life several years ago. Cazares, a Harlingen native, will receive a certificate II in Auto Collision, making him one of nearly 400 students who will receive a certificate or associate degree […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-harlingen"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1972","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1972"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1972\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1988,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1972\/revisions\/1988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1972"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}