What I've Learned: Raquel Mendez

After graduating in 2004, Raquel Mendez began taking classes at Austin Community College as a way to figure out what she wanted to do in her life.

"I started taking classes at ACC in September of 2004, the semester after I graduated high school," Mendez said. "I really didn't want to go to school, because I had no idea what I wanted to ‘be when I grow up,' but my mom told me that if I didn't go to school I'd have to move out."

Mendez spent her time at ACC trying out a multitude of majors.

"I started as a business administration major, then spent the next four years bouncing from business administration, to theatre, to sociology, then psychology and finally landed on education," Mendez said.

Once she chose education as her major, her mom informed her that if she changed her major one more time, she would't pay for her to take classes anymore.

After finding her calling in education, Mendez transferred to Texas State University in Spring 2009 and graduated from there May 2011.

"I was two classes shy of an associate, but decided to get to Texas State as soon as possible simply because I needed a change," Mendez said.

Currently Mendez works at Town & Country Children's Montessori as an assistant teacher.

"My duties [at Town & Country] mostly include assisting the teachers in transitioning the students from playground to circle time, circle time to work time, work to lunch, etc.," Mendez said. "I help with behavior and time management, small group instruction, arts and crafts and — of course — maintaining a clean classroom."

In addition to being an assistant teacher, Mendez also works at ACC.

"At ACC, when they are short handed I'm either an hourly adviser or assessment test proctor," Mendez said.

Taking classes and working at ACC has been part of Mendez's family for decades.

"ACC feels like home to me," Mendez said. "My mother has been working here for 30 years, I grew up at HBC and EVC. I was volunteering in the Child Lab, Summer Youth Academy and for random festivals on campus."

Mendez credits three people in her life for helping her succeed at ACC: Professor Omar Rodriguez, who she says patiently helped her understand math, Dr. Giao Phan and her mom Juanita Mendez who is the campus manager for Eastview Campus and an ACC professor.

"Dr. Giao Phan was an awesome Education teacher," Mendez said. "Thinking back through

my education classes from ACC to Texas State, her special populations classes are one of the best classes I've ever taken. She is extremely blunt and straight-forward and one of the best teachers I've ever had. She completely took care of my fear of public speaking and provided great insight into the teaching profession. There's advice that she gave in that class that rings in my head on a weekly basis at my current job."

For Mendez, her mom has been the biggest influence in her life even though she never took any of her classes.

"Although I never took her Excel or Word classes, she's certainly a teacher at ACC who helped me," she said. "I don't think I would have begun taking classes if it weren't for her, I wouldn't have been able to pay for school without her, and I wouldn't have my bachelor's without her."

Mendez recommends ACC to future college students because of the low tuition rate and small classes.

"One semester at ACC would run $700- $1,000 whereas a semester at Texas State was $6,000-$8,000," Mendez said. "I also liked the smaller classrooms. I was able to become comfortable in my class and I like that kind of learning environment. I remember a Physics class I took at Texas State with around 200 students, it was completely overwhelming and the teacher had no idea who any of us were. Since it was a straight-from-the-book lecture, I usually just signed in and left. I did the readings from home and managed to get a ‘B' in the class without actually learning anything or having a ‘classroom' experience or learning the name of anyone in the classroom. At ACC, the classes usually had less than 30 students, most of those students either shared the same campus or major as me. It was nice getting to know some people, if only to ask, ‘What's due tomorrow?' when bumping into them at Simon's Cafe."

From her experience as a student at ACC, Mendez offers the following advice for current ACC students:

"One — don't feel like you need to have a major and future mapped out from day one," Mendez said. "If you're unsure, stick to the core basics, meet with the advisers and do some career aptitude tests. Take intro classes to get your feet wet, but don't feel like you need to lock a major down right off the bat."

"Two — stick with it!" Mendez said. "I know you'll feel overwhelmed and stressed and see no light at the end of the tunnel, but that pride, that feeling of accomplishment, having your degree... it is so worth it."