New grad credits college success to UHCL’s support of Hispanic students

University Press Release

Graduating from high school and then going on to college might be just the usual course for some, but for Bogar Garcia, these events have been major milestones not just for him, but for his whole family. As he walks across the stage to receive his bachelor of arts in humanities with minors in communication and Latin American Studies from University of Houston-Clear Lake, he’s making family history as the first to receive both his high school and college diplomas.

“I started out working toward my associate’s degree at another college and ran into financial problems,” he said. “I was working sometimes two or even three jobs as semester. It was really hard,” he said.

He found out that UH-Clear Lake was a Hispanic Serving Institution which offered extensive  support to Hispanic and first-generation college students. “That’s really what helped me choose UHCL,” he said. “I met people who let me know they were here to help me succeed in school.”

He said he had taken full course loads with 15 and even 18 credit hours while working toward his degree. “It was not easy,” he said. “But I always knew I could message my professors and I could ask for help when I needed it. They guided me and I got the help I needed to graduate.”

It hasn’t quite sunk in yet, he said, that he’s actually going to graduate on May 19. “I am applying for jobs now,” he said. “My main career goal is just to be successful. I have a difficult background and I just want to find a job where I can live a stable life and help others.”

Ultimately, Garcia said he sees himself as a teacher. “I am considering getting my master’s degree, but I am also thinking about getting my teaching certification,” he said. “I want to help students and show them how to overcome their adversity in life, and show them no matter what they go through, there’s someone there to help them.”

For more information about UHCL’s Bachelor of Arts in Humanities program, visit www.uhcl.edu/academics/degrees/humanities-ba.