Travis High School senior Arcelia loves art, nature, and any chance to learn something new. She spends her days balancing classes like math and English, planning her next steps, and imagining a future where she studies environmental science, hopefully in Colorado. When she joined College Possible Texas, she found the encouragement and guidance she needed to turn that dream into a plan.
This fall, she took a bold step and signed up for every experiential learning event College Possible Texas offered. She joined corporate site visits and heard from employees at Snapchat, Oracle, and Applied Materials, each one giving her a closer look at real workplaces and real people building meaningful careers.
Seeing Workplaces Up Close
Arcelia had always been curious about what it might feel like to work inside a large company. She plans to study environmental science and wonders whether technology might also have a place in her future. Attending these events helped her explore both interests.
One common theme she enjoyed hearing about was professionals who never expected to end up in their current roles. She recalled stories from professionals at Oracle and Snapchat who had majored in one subject only to discover a different passion later. This helped her see that careers are flexible and personal, encompassing both soft and hard skills.
“When I heard their stories, I realized that everyone has a different road. You can change directions and still succeed,” she says.
A Clearer View of Career Possibilities
After visiting three companies, she noticed a common theme. Every panelist and volunteer had traveled a unique path, yet they all found careers that fit their strengths.
These experiences eased one of her biggest worries. She no longer feels pressured to choose a single career and stay with it forever.
“It made me realize that if something does not work out, I can try something else. The road does not end. I can change course and keep going,” she says.
Coaching Support That Builds Confidence
Her coach, Melinda, played a key role in helping her say yes to these opportunities.
“She is always supportive. If I tell her I want to try something, she tells me to go for it,” Arcelia says. “She helped me open up more and feel confident.”
Before joining College Possible Texas, Arcelia doubted her own academic ability. She did not always see herself as someone who was on a strong path. That changed once she entered the program.
“I realized I am actually pretty smart. I am building a path for myself and preparing for college. That feels really good,” she says.
Arcelia first connected with Melinda while seeking help with the FAFSA, a common starting point for many students. Through steady coaching and guidance, that initial support expanded to include shaping her major, choosing the right college, and planning her future career.
Growing Curiosity and Future Goals
Environmental science remains her top interest, but the experiential learning events have sparked a new curiosity. She now wants to learn how technology and environmental science can work together for good.
She is especially interested in refining artificial intelligence in ways that reduce environmental impact. “I want to learn how we can protect the environment when using AI,” she says.
Why These Opportunities Matter
For Arcelia, attending these events helped her see that success is not one-size-fits-all. Students can explore new interests, shift directions, and still move toward meaningful futures without losing momentum.
“These events highlight that it is okay to change paths. It is okay if your major or career changes. There will always be opportunities,” she says.
Her advice to other students is simple. “You should absolutely attend events like these, even if the field doesn’t seem like your thing. You can learn something new, and it might interest you more than you expect.”
Looking Ahead
Arcelia hopes to see future experiential learning opportunities that highlight health care careers, since many of her classmates are interested in that field. She also hopes more students will take the chance to explore new workplaces as she did.
All three events this semester gave her a stronger sense of what she wants and how to keep moving forward. Each visit added value and helped her see that her interests in science, nature, and technology can all fit into a future she is building step by step.
