My experience as a college student
I finally became a senior, even though I have been one for some time by credit hours. I just realized that I just began my last year at UTRGV as I am set to graduate in Spring 2026.
I have reflected on my college experience, and it is one that I am grateful for having had.
My original plan was to move to Monterrey, Mexico, and study at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, one of the best universities in the country. However, now I can admit that I was not ready to leave my home completely. I chose UTRGV for two main reasons: its affordability, even as an international student, and its closeness to home.
I started at UTRGV in Summer I 2021, in which I just took two courses while on dual enrollment. However, I officially started college in Fall 2022, unsure of what I wanted my major to be. During orientation, the adviser there told me to just choose anything and do the general core while I make the choice. I did that and began my college experience as an international business major.
During my first semester, I greatly enjoyed my intro to accounting classes; however, I did not want to become just an accountant, like my parents. So, I chose to change my major to finance.
The general education core, the business cores, all went great. I started working for Student Media as a section editor for Pulse magazine in Fall 2023. As an international student, my employment options were limited to on-campus ones.
As I began to take advanced finance courses, I realized it was not what I thought it was. So, I caved in and decided to change my major to accounting. However, I realized I only needed two more classes to finish the major; instead, I declared a double major.
At the same time, I switched programs and began as a copy editor for The Rider newspaper in Fall 2024.
This semester, I applied to enter the accounting fast-track program, which would have allowed me to take graduate-level courses as an undergrad. It was disappointing to find out double majors are not eligible.
Throughout my college experience, I have found new friends, I have represented UTRGV at a couple of competitions, I have worked on campus, and I completed an internship, among other things I cannot think of to list at the moment.
My point is, one’s university experience is not perfect and may definitely not be what was originally planned. However, I have come to appreciate how mine has been shaped, even if I am suffering taking 18 credit hours this semester.
I am ready to see what God has planned for me for my last year as a college student.
