Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
For South Texas College student Valerie Lazo, the decision to follow her passion for art was not an easy one, but it has been life changing.
At 32 years old, Lazo is preparing to graduate next spring and plans to transfer to a university to pursue her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Fine Arts with a minor in Teaching. Her dream is to work in art preservation, museums and art dealing before teaching at the university level.
However, pursuing this dream wasn’t an easy decision. It meant facing uncertainty, pushing past fear and challenging the expectations she had grown up with, all to follow a passion that had been on hold for far too long.
“My parents always told me I needed to go to school for something that was going to make me money,” she said. “So, I always pushed my talent and passion aside. I’ve always been creative, but I never went for it because I wasn’t sure how I was going to make a living. It was really hard and scary going for what I wanted, but I knew I had to take the leap.”
Lazo has spent three years at STC, initially pursuing interdisciplinary studies before realizing her true calling was the arts. After taking a break, she returned last fall determined to change her path.
“I’ve always felt like I was behind and was scared to switch because it would have put me further behind,” she said. “Something in me was not happy and told me I had to go for what I love. So, I came back and have been happy ever since.”
She credits Art Lecturer Lourdes Garcia for helping her gain the confidence to fully embrace her goals.
“My professor truly opened up a new world for me,” she said. “I always felt I was meant to be in this field, but I was never certain of the path I wanted to take. The way she presented art, the way she thought about it and spoke about it, inspired me to keep pushing forward.”
For Lazo, STC was the perfect place to begin her journey in higher education, offering the support she needed to take that first step towards her dreams.
“I wanted to come to STC because it is affordable, accessible and flexible,” she said. “As a returning student, that made all the difference. STC gave me the opportunity to explore my options without feeling overwhelmed and the flexibility allowed me to balance school with my personal responsibilities. It was the right environment to discover what I truly wanted to do.”
Lazo’s journey is not just about pursuing her own dreams, but also about breaking cycles of fear and inspiring those around her.
“I’ve seen my parents struggle with the things they never tried because they were afraid of the unknown,” she added. “That motivated me to be brave and take chances. Now, they look at what I’m doing and tell me they admire my courage. I hope my story can inspire others to trust themselves, follow their passions and not let fear hold them back.”
Her message to other students is clear: “Always choose what makes you happy.”
“Always follow what makes you happy, because no one else is going to live your life but you,” she said. “Too often, we let fear or other people’s expectations guide our decisions. Going to college and choosing a path in art has taught me that pursuing what you love is worth the risk. At the end of the day, you’re doing this for yourself, and living without regrets is what matters most.”
For more information on STC’s Visual Arts program, visit: https://www.southtexascollege.edu/academics/visual-arts/.
Information source: STC
