Texas Border Business
By Sara Reyna
After years of working minimum wage jobs and feeling the uncertainty of the pandemic, South Texas College graduate Nicolas Canales made the life-changing decision to pursue a college education, becoming the first in his family to do so.
On Sunday, Canales will earn a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership, a milestone he never thought possible.
Born and raised in Donna, Texas, Canales left high school early to support his family, working in the hospitality industry for over a decade. Though he earned a General Education Development (GED) certificate in 2009, he believed college was out of reach.
“I am not a traditional student, I had to get out into the workforce from a young age to help support my family, so college was never a thought in my mind,” Canales explained. “For over 10 years, I worked in the hospitality industry, but after the pandemic hit I realized I had no job security, life could change at any instance.”
As the world shut down, with his job on the line, Canales decided it was time to make a change.
“I felt like college was not an option for me, I didn’t think I was smart enough for it,” Canales shared. “Despite my reservations, I decided I needed to try something different. The thought of attending college scared me and I didn’t know where to start. The only thing that was clear to me was the fear of failing, but I also feared staying stuck in the same place with no opportunities to grow.”
Taking a leap of faith, Canales decided to start his educational journey taking baby steps by attempting to earn a certificate in commercial cooking. Empowered by Culinary Arts faculty, Canales received his certificate and shortly after, his Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts in 2023.
“I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I first started, but the Culinary Arts department felt like home,” explained the 36-year-old. “Before I knew it, I finished the program and along the way I worked with incredible faculty members like Chef Ruben Lemus, Rachel Brown, Ph.D. and Sandra Espinoza who pushed and encouraged me to continue my studies. They believed in me. Because of instructors like them, I am about to graduate with my bachelor’s degree, a milestone I never thought was possible.
With newfound confidence and academic success, Canales enrolled in STC’s Bachelor of Organizational Leadership program. Embracing the opportunities the college offered, he became an active member of the Student Government Association and the National Society of Leadership and Success STC Chapter. Canales also pursued scholarship opportunities like Training Experience About Meat (TEAM), representing STC for a first-ever meat grading competition.
STC Biology Department Instructor and TEAM Mentor Sandra Espinoza praised Canales’ determination and growth. Emphasizing the positive impact Canales has made while at the college.
“Nicolas is the first in his family to pursue a college degree and he is constantly encouraging not only his family to try new things, but encouraging his classmates through his inclusive and positive nature,” Espinoza expressed. “We’ve seen Nicolas embrace every challenge and demonstrate what it means to step out of your comfort zone to achieve greatness.”
Canales is set to walk across the stage alongside more than 2,700 STC graduates at the Bert Ogden Arena during STC’s fall commencement ceremonies. As he reflects on his journey to the commencement stage, Canales hopes to inspire and encourage anyone hesitant to pursue their dreams.
“Looking back at young Nicolas, I would tell him that life gets better and that his support system will grow larger than he could have ever imagined,” Canales expressed. “I took a chance on myself despite not knowing how to navigate college or if I had what it took to succeed. Because of STC, I’ve grown academically and personally, gaining the confidence and tools to excel no matter where life takes me. I jumped into school scared and anxious about the outcome, but it’s during those moments of fear and uncertainty that you grow the most and here I am to prove that there are a lot of rewards waiting for you, if you just try.”
