Texas Border Business
Kenya Alvarez is preparing to graduate with her associate degree in Business Administration from South Texas College. With plans to transfer to a four-year university to study International Business, Alvarez is determined to build a successful career and create opportunities beyond what she grew up with.
“My family always worked hard, but we lived paycheck to paycheck,” Alvarez said. “I don’t want to live like that. I want to create something bigger for myself and my family’s future.”
Inspired by her older brother, who built his own car detailing business, Alvarez saw firsthand the power of entrepreneurship.
“Ever since we lived together, I’d see his room full of products, and I never thought much of it,” she said. “But then I realized he was building something bigger. His work ethic and determination really inspired me.”
Although she is driven by business, Alvarez is not limiting herself to just one path. She dreams of working as an international accountant, becoming a diplomatic representative for global businesses or opening multiple companies of her own.
“I want to do it right,” Alvarez said. “I want to secure my success in a way that will last.”
Her academic journey began at Veterans Memorial High School, where she was a dual credit student. Taking college-level courses while still in high school gave her a head start on her degree and made the transition to college smoother.
“When I saw the opportunity, I knew I had to take advantage of it,” she said. “The process was simple, and it helped me get ahead.”
Set to graduate this May, Alvarez is looking forward to transferring to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. While the process of transferring has required effort, she is excited about her next step.
Despite her busy schedule as a full-time student and full-time worker, Alvarez has made meaningful connections at STC. She credits STC’s faculty, especially her Economics Instructor Teo Sepulveda and her accounting faculty member Claudia Mercado, for helping shape her experience.
“Dr. Mercado is an inspiration,” Alvarez said. “She’s an accountant, and I see myself in her. It makes me feel like I’m on the right path.”
Alvarez’s job as a manager at Casa de Hilo has also given her real world business experience. In addition to her managerial role, she is a licensed cosmetologist, a skill that adds to her versatility in the workforce.
“Working and studying full-time hasn’t been easy, but it’s preparing me for the future,” she said. “I didn’t join clubs because of my schedule, but I’ve still learned so much through my classes and job.”
STC has been a crucial part of Alvarez’s journey, providing her with the foundation she needed to grow academically and professionally.
“If I hadn’t started at STC, I wouldn’t have the connections or the career plan I have now,” she said. “This college gave me the opportunity to test the waters and make sure I was making the right choices.”
Alvarez added, that with a strong vision for her future and a relentless drive for success, she is ready to take on the business world, one opportunity at a time. For more information on STC’s Business Administration program, visit
https://www.southtexascollege.edu/academics/business-admin/.
