Texas Border Business
Frances Rosales, 38, is proving that it’s never too late to go back to school. A full-time secretary at South Texas College’s Starfish office, Rosales is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, while juggling work, school and raising two daughters as a single mom.
Rosales originally began college right after high school in 2004, but had to put her education on hold when she became an assistant store manager at Sears, a popular department store chain selling a wide variety of merchandise such as clothing, tools and appliances. Balancing school and the demands of retail management proved difficult.
“Going to school and working wasn’t an option at the time,” she said.
However, when she started working at STC years later through a temporary staffing agency, something shifted.
“If I hadn’t started working here, I wouldn’t have come back,” she said. “I told myself, ‘I’m already here. Let me try again.’”
Rosales earned a certificate and associate degree in business administration and is now well on her way to completing her bachelor’s degree.
Rosales said she hopes she is setting a positive example for her daughters.
“They’re watching everything I do,” she said. “When I walked the stage for my associate degree and they told me, ‘Mommy, we’re proud of you,’ that meant everything.”
Rosales credits the support around her for helping her succeed especially her supervisors and colleagues at STC.
“The Business Administration faculty are amazing. They guide you and work with you,” she said. “My boss, Shannon Perales, STC Starfish administrator, is the reason I came back to school.”
Despite her busy schedule, Rosales is also a Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society officer and a part of the Academic Excellence Program. While she takes all her classes online, she’s found that STC still provides a sense of connection among students.
“I’ve had so many great experiences through work and school,” she said. “Everyone here feels like family.”
Rosales hopes her journey reminds others especially single parents that it’s never too late to continue your education.
“It’s hard, but it’s possible,” she said. “You just have to keep remembering why you’re doing it.”
Information source: STC
