Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
South Texas College student Daniel Gonzalez is a 42-year-old Weslaco native proving that determination has no age limit.
After being away from the classroom for 15 years, Gonzalez has returned to pursue a degree in Business Management, balancing working full time, parenthood and academics while inspiring those around him.
For Gonzalez, returning to school was not an easy decision. Work, financial responsibilities and raising a family kept him from continuing his education earlier in life. However, something within him knew it was the time.
“I knew that something was lacking and I knew what my potential was,” he said. “I wasn’t meeting it. I knew what I was capable of, but needed to see it within myself to take the first step and get on the right track.”
Coming back after more than a decade brought new challenges, especially with rapidly advancing technology.
“I was scared to come back,” he said. “Time and technology have changed so much since I was last in school. On my second day of class I realized how far behind I was with simple things like Microsoft Word. Even PowerPoint is so different than it was 15 years ago.”
Despite the learning curve, Gonzalez said he is adapting more and more each day.
“I’m slowly but surely getting the hang of things,” he said. “I’m taking it a lot more seriously this time around and realizing my potential instead of doubting myself.”
Gonzalez works more than 40 hours a week while raising four children, ages 5 to 14. His daily schedule is a testament to his commitment.
“Some days I go to work from 6 to 11:30 a.m., then class from 12 to 2 p.m., and by 2:15 p.m. I’m back at work until 9. My kids are in extracurricular activities, so I take my laptop, connect it to my phone’s hotspot and do assignments at the soccer field or I’m turning in homework while eating dinner at Peter Piper Pizza with my family.”
Through all the chaos, he said the most valuable lesson he’s learned since returning to school is the importance of taking initiative.
“My biggest fear was failing, but then I realized you don’t know until you try,” he said. “Once I pushed past that fear, everything else started falling into place.”
Gonzalez credits his parents and children as the anchors that keep him moving forward.
“My parents never gave up on me,” he said. “They always said I’m the only one who can decide if I want to do something. My kids also motivate me because if they see me doing it, they learn it’s not about if, it’s about when.”
A quote he lives by has guided him through this journey, giving him strength on the hardest days and encouraging him to push forward even when balancing work, school and family felt overwhelming.
“As long as there’s breath in your body, it’s never too late to change your story.”
Gonzalez said STC’s supportive environment has made all the difference in his return, providing the encouragement, understanding and resources he needed to regain his confidence as a student.
“Here at STC, the faculty are so understanding of the level of help I need sometimes,” he said. “I’ll email them if I’m confused on how to submit an assignment, and they always respond quickly. It means a lot to someone like me who needs that extra support.”
He is also a member of the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Student Leadership Academy at STC’s Mid-Valley Campus. These organizations, he says, have helped him feel connected.
“Coming back to school was hard enough, but having a group who supports you makes it easier,” he said. “You build relationships with people who you might one day see in the professional world. Those connections start here.”
One of his favorite things about STC is the sense of belonging. He appreciates the close-knit community that makes students feel seen, supported and connected from day one.”
“It’s like one big community. If I went to a bigger school, it would feel like being around strangers. Here, it feels welcoming. It feels like family.”
Gonzalez hopes his journey encourages other adults to take the leap. After overcoming his own doubts and challenges, he wants others to see it’s never too late to rewrite your future.
“I compare going back to school to reading a book,” he said. “Not all chapters are great, but some of the greatest ones happen at the end. Those final chapters complete your story.”
For Gonzalez, this new chapter is just beginning and he’s proving every day that it’s never too late to chase the future you deserve.
For more information on STC’s Business Administration Program, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/business-admin/.
Information source: STC
