Being the first person in her family to go to college, there have been a number of challenges Juana has had to face, for example, learning to balance family commitments with her studies; being responsible for her student fees; deciding on a field of study without guidance beforehand; to name a few.
She attributes her success to being a strong self advocate who maximizes resources, for example registering with Trio Student Support Services in her first year; utilizing UTSI academic support resources from the start. She also applied for work study and has been working at UTSI as an office assistant since her first semester which has enabled her to spend more time on campus for her studies and develop job skills. She also has taken advantage of opportunities, for example going on Study Abroad this past summer to Ireland. These experiences have contributed to her sense of belonging and connection to UTA despite being a commuter student, and have empowered her confidence in preparing for the work force.
Juana’s quote – “follow your instincts which encourages you to become who you are.”