Shanelle Settles is a student majoring in natural science at San Jacinto South Campus. On track to graduate this Fall semester, she completes her degree through San Jac’s Online Anytime course plan. She shares that the accessibility offered through the program aided her throughout her degree journey.
“The flexibility of an online schedule was essential,” says Settles. “It allowed me to manage my responsibilities as a parent and a working student while still maintaining my wellbeing. That balance made it possible for me to stay committed.”
Settles plans to continue pre-nursing and to apply to the ADN program, aiming to begin in Fall 2026. She attributes her success at San Jac to many pieces of wisdom that she has picked up her time of being a student.
“I have learned that slow progress is still progress. Balancing work, school, and life meant taking only two courses each semester, and at times it felt like the finish line was far away. But staying consistent taught me that life is truly a marathon … steady effort, even in small steps, can carry you exactly where you are meant to be.”
Settles also attributes her success throughout her time at San Jac to her determination and faith. She believes that students should protect their focus, be proactive when asking questions, and embrace challenges to achieve true success while in college.
“God doesn’t place more on you than you can carry,” says Settles. “Success often comes not from a smooth path, but from the determination to keep going when obstacles show up.”
Jacob Gonzalez, who goes by “Jay,” is a fine arts student set to graduate in the 2025 Fall semester from San Jacinto College North Campus. Gonzalez specializes in digital art but often delves into more traditional forms of art—like sculpting and drawing—during his time at San Jac.
Gonzalez attributes his success at San Jac to support from those around him, as well as honing his time-management skills throughout his time as a student.
“Love and support really made a difference,” shares Gonzalez, when asked about what helped him earn his degree at San Jac. “When I came to San Jac, I thought I would be a wallflower, but I made a great, diverse group of friends. I was able to create strong bonds … interacting with people was a lot easier than I expected.
“My professors supported me—they knew my struggles and gave me advice. My family too, because I am a first-generation student; I got nothing but love and support from them. I do not want to just do this for myself—I want to make them proud and make a difference as a first-generation neurodivergent student.”
Gonzalez plans to attend the University of Houston after graduating, citing the university’s diversity and recognition of neurodiversity as a major benefit of enrolling.
He believes that graduates from San Jac should not feel pressured to grow up too fast, noting that there is no need to rush the process when just starting out.
“There are going to be times where it is not easy to handle things on your own—it takes a team. Do not think that because you are an adult you cannot ask for help; everyone needs help in some way. Asking is simple, but it can build up into achieving what you want. Go at your own pace.”
Andrew Rico is a student at Central Campus who majors in natural science. After graduating in the Fall 2025 semester, he plans to continue his education by pursuing a career in radiology.
During his time at San Jac, Rico found his favorite course to be his Vocal Ensemble class, which aligned with his lifelong passion for music and arts.
Rico finds that support from his professors was essential for his success at San Jac.
“Specifically, with me being a science major, my hardest class has been anatomy. I had one of the professors on campus tutoring, Dr. Higgs. She really helped motivate me, even when the coursework was hard.
“She took the time to email me—like, “Hey, what can I do? Let’s figure out what went wrong.” It just gave me hope, knowing there are people—most professors here—who really motivate us and push us.”
Rico shares that college students should continue to persevere throughout their coursework, no matter how challenging it may seem.
“Never give up. I know San Jac especially—the coursework is quite rigorous, to be honest. You may have those moments where you want to break down or tell yourself you want to drop out. But there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to find it—not only in yourself, but through the support system you build around you … you just have to keep pushing, because it really gets better.”
Caitlynn Snelson, who goes by “Catty,” is a sophomore graduating from San Jacinto College North Campus. Snelson currently majors in social behavioral sciences but plans to transfer her passion into forensic anthropology; she aims to pursue a doctorate in the field. Snelson also plans to work while continuing her education.
During her time at San Jac, Snelson discovered a love of writing through Professor Joshua Gottlieb-Miller’s English course. With Gottlieb-Miller, Snelson founded a creative writing club at San Jacinto College North Campus.
Snelson attributes her success at San Jac to the community around her and reaching out to other students in the same courses.
“Talking to other students really helped me, because I was way too nervous to talk to actual professors. I thought they just knew too much and I felt scared. But talking to other students really opened doors for me—opportunities they told me about, like the Honors Program or where to get help for things. Just talking to my classmates whenever I could really helped me out.”
Snelson shares that graduating students should feel confident in their goals and plans and should not let fear of the future bring down their success.
“It’s going to be okay, pretty much. Because it’s scary, but it’s going to be all right,” Snelson shares. “You’ve got this. And make sure you have a plan. Even if it’s not a full plan—have an idea of what you want to do.”
