Finding a voice through marketing and second chances

When Joel Morales Jr. first started at South Texas College back in 2017, he thought he had it all figured out. His plan was to go into law enforcement. Everything seemed like it was going smoothly until life had other plans.

“I had to drop out in 2020 during COVID,” said Joel. “Financially, I just couldn’t continue. It was hard, but I told myself I’d come back.”

Now, at 25 years old, Morales is back at STC, fully focused and working toward his associate degree in Advertising and Public Relations. With a passion for communication, creativity and connection, he’s discovered a new path that feels more aligned with who he is today.

“I’ve always been interested in how advertising works,” Joel said. “Even something simple like a pen — I like figuring out how to convince someone they need it. What makes this pen special? What makes people buy it? That’s marketing, and it’s kind of fun.”

Morales first learned about STC’s Advertising and Public Relations program after searching online for something that felt right for his return to school, and even though he started out unsure, things quickly began to fall into place.

“STC just made sense,” he said. “It was close to home, affordable and they made the process easy. As a resident of Mission, I also received a MEDA scholarship, and that helped me get a new laptop and cover my books. That made a huge difference.”

The MEDA Scholarship, sponsored through a long-time partnership with the Mission Economic Development Corporation is available to students who reside in the city of Mission. To date, STC has awarded nearly $2 million in scholarships.

Morales now takes all his classes online, balancing school with a part-time job as a team lead at JCPenney. He says online learning has helped him manage everything at his own pace and stay productive, whether he’s working on assignments, spending time with his pets or studying late into the night.

“Honestly, I get up around 3 a.m. sometimes just to get my homework done,” he said. “It’s exhausting, but I keep reminding myself why I’m doing this. I want more for myself, and I want to be proud of the life I build.”

Morales is also a first-generation college student and expects to graduate by the end of this year, before planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree and continuing to grow his experience in his field, either through his own business or by helping small businesses in the Rio Grande Valley.

“I used to think school wasn’t for me,” Morales said. “But now, I’ve changed. I care more, I’m learning more and I’m excited about what’s next. STC has helped me believe in myself again.”