Maryrose has always said yes to a good opportunity.
When she was accepted into College Possible Texas while attending Connally High School, she jumped at the opportunity.
“That’s cool,” she remembers thinking. “I should take advantage of this.”
That single decision set the tone for her future and opened a door she didn’t even know was there.
As a first-generation college student, Maryrose found her first steps toward higher education both exciting and overwhelming. Less like a traditional counselor and more like a trusted friend, her coach was close enough in age to truly relate to her experience. Together, they researched financial aid, searched for scholarships, and gathered letters of recommendation. That kind of support turned a daunting goal, like applying to college, into manageable steps.
One pivotal moment stands out: a College Possible Texas experiential learning trip to Oracle’s Austin offices. Before that day, applying to a major corporation felt out of reach. But meeting employees who were eager to pay their success forward reshaped her vision of what was possible.
Henry, Maryrose’s coach, joined her on that Oracle visit and saw the impact firsthand.
“That visit was one of those moments where you could see Maryrose starting to picture herself in places she might not have imagined before. What stood out to me was that she used it as motivation to keep pushing herself and thinking bigger about what was possible.”
“It was like a bridge,” Maryrose said, explaining how that early exposure gave her the confidence to pursue more competitive opportunities, including a summer internship at Charles Schwab.
Maryrose graduated from Texas State University in 2025 with a degree in computer information systems. She directly links that Oracle visit to where she is today: “It inspired me to apply to bigger companies.”
Looking back, her personal transformation is striking.
“I used to be the shyest person in the room. I never said a word,” she shared. “But with the right support, I’ve started an incredible journey. As I go through life, I meet new people, take on opportunities, and overcome challenges. It all helps me level up and reach my goals.”
That transformation inspired a new goal: paying it forward. Maryrose hopes to become the mentor she once needed, an older sister figure for the next generation of students. Today, she is building her platform on LinkedIn and hopes to inspire future students by sharing her experiences.
Her advice for students walking in her shoes is straightforward: “Take chances. Explore different majors and don’t settle. Nothing is set in stone. Get to know your strengths and weaknesses. Life is a journey, so just ride it.”
For Maryrose, a college degree is far more than a credential. “It’s a milestone, a goal I set for myself to prove that I finished something. It’s a foundation I can use to support my family in the future.”
Asked to describe her future, she smiled and offered a few dynamic words: “Spontaneous. Adventurous. Futuristic. Very curious … and ‘to be determined.’ I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I am up for the challenge.”
Inspired by Maryrose’s story? Learn more about how College Possible Texas near-peer coaching model opens doors for the next generation of leaders.
