Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
Peter Puente has embraced many titles over the past few years: father, husband, service member and now, college graduate.
Puente has been a proud member of the Air Force Reserves for over 7 years and is set to graduate this week from South Texas College with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership (BASOL), a milestone that caps off a resilient journey.
Puente began his academic career at STC with an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice, which he completed in spring 2024. Motivated to continue advancing his education and leadership skills, he enrolled in the BASOL program shortly after.
“My wife is the one who inspired me to go back to school,” he said. “She reminded me that education isn’t just about books or degrees, it’s about setting an example, about showing our child what it means to never give up. This isn’t just my achievement. This degree belongs to them as well. They are my why.”
In the middle of his educational journey, life took an unexpected turn. In late spring 2024, his unit was activated and deployed to Saudi Arabia for seven months, leaving behind his wife, one-year-old daughter and two-week-old son.
Rather than putting his education on hold, he committed to continuing his coursework remotely, relying on the flexibility of STC’s online campus. Thousands of miles from home, under the pressures of deployment and recently welcoming a new addition to his family, Puente never abandoned his studies.
“It was very challenging,” he admitted. “There were days that felt never-ending, 10-hour shifts that left me mentally and physically drained. But the discipline I learned in the military taught me how to stay focused, how to persevere even when I was exhausted and how to keep pushing forward no matter how tough things got. There were nights I’d come back, barely able to keep my eyes open, but I still had to study, write papers and prepare for exams. It wasn’t easy, but I reminded myself of the bigger picture. I knew what I was working toward.”
Puente gives credit to his wife, who was one of the main reasons he was able to get through his deployment. However, he would also like thank the STC Child Development Center at the Mid-Valley Campus for their unbelievable support towards his family while he was gone.
“I was incredibly grateful that my daughter could continue attending the Child Development Center while I was deployed. Not one time did I have to worry about my child when she was in their hands. I knew she was being well taken care of by the kind and nurturing staff. My son is now also enrolled alongside his big sister.”
After graduation, Puente plans to dedicate his life to shaping young minds as a Social Studies teacher for students in grades fourth through eighth. For Puente, this isn’t just a career choice, it’s a calling born out of a deep love for community and the belief that every child deserves a teacher who sees their potential.
“After going through life and facing a range of personal experiences, some challenging, some transformative, I’ve come to realize that my true purpose is to help others. Those experiences opened my eyes to the importance of compassion, patience and service. When I thought about where I could make the most impact, I was immediately drawn to working with youth.”
His story reflects the strength and determination of so many students who are parents and service members who balance family life, higher education and military responsibilities.
As Puente prepares to cross the stage at commencement, he does so as a symbol of perseverance, leadership and love for his country, his family and his future.
STC’s Commencement Ceremonies will be hosted at the Bert Ogden Arena May 9 and 10. For more information, visit southtexascollege.edu/graduation.
