01
December
2020
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08:11 AM
America/Chicago

Discipline is key for student dancer pursuing BASOL degree

Student of the Week: Gabriela Antuñano

Student of the Week Gabriela Antuñano
“STC provided me with a flexible schedule and with an excellent opportunity to continue working while pursuing my bachelors degree. I've had a great experience not only with my teachers but also through the STC staff. Everyone has always helped me to thrive and has gladly helped through all my doubts. I've always felt very proud to be part of STC.”
Student of the Week Gabriela Antuñano

Discipline and organization have enabled Gabriela Antuñano to balance college life with her work as a professional ballet dancer.

Starting at STC in the fall of 2017, Gabriela is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership (BASOL).

“(STC) provided me with a flexible schedule and with an excellent opportunity to continue working while pursuing my bachelors degree,” Gabriela said. “I've had a great experience not only with my teachers but also through the STC staff. Everyone has always helped me to thrive and has gladly helped through all my doubts. I've always felt very proud to be part of STC.”

Gabriela said she studied at STC while working at a local ballet company, putting in eight hours of work daily, and extra hours during performance season. STC gave her the chance to work on schoolwork at her own pace even though she had uncommon work hours, she said.

Now close to graduation, her plan is to continue to pursue a career as a professional dancer, and after her retirement she plans to utilize her degree to begin her own business in the dance industry.

I have always been motivated by a challenge, and it was a really big challenge to juggle STC and work as a professional ballet dancer,” Gabriela said. “I am also motivated because all that I have learned at STC has helped me plan and organize my future business. It is easier to see how this dream of mine will become a reality.”

The Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership is the first competency-based bachelor's degree from a Texas public institution that enables students to receive college credit for courses they have already taken and developed through work and life.

The degree focuses on skills that will help prepare students for a position of leadership in business, government, non-profit, or educational organizations. The upper division courses enable students to solve real-world business problems and demonstrate new skills through a final project that will be part of their portfolio for future opportunities.

It is super important to be a disciplined person, especially when studying 100 percent online,” Gabriela said. “Another thing that helped me a lot is being organized, and always making sure I schedule everything in a realistic way; balancing STC work, professional work, and my personal life.”