Finding her path, one step at a time
Student of the Week: Dariely Salinas
I’ve loved being around everyone, helping out at events and just being part of something.
At 22 years old, Dariely Salinas is still figuring things out, but she’s doing it with purpose, grace and heart. Currently pursuing her Associate of Applied Science in Interdisciplinary Studies at South Texas College, she is leaning toward Nursing, though she’s keeping her options open.
“I like nursing, I like helping people,” said Salinas.
Salinas is a part-time student balancing work and school. She currently works as a work-study student at STC’s Student Activities and Wellness department, thanks to the encouragement and guidance of her advisors.
“I started in April,” she said. “My advisors and friends helped me apply when two spots opened up. I’ve loved being around everyone, helping out at events and just being part of something.”
One of her biggest motivators is her supervisor and advisor, Abdaly Avilez, a Student Activities Specialist in the Student Activities and Wellness Department. She said she is always pushing her to stay on track and helps her remember why she started.
“She is someone I really look up to,” Salinas said. “She always motivates me and reminds me that I can do this, even when it gets hard.”
She plans to continue her education at a steady pace and eventually become a registered nurse. Long term, her dream is to become a nurse practitioner.
“There are a lot of stops along the way, but that’s the goal,” she said.
At home, Salinas lives with her grandmother and has done so for the past 10 years, ever since her grandfather passed away.
“I didn’t want her to be alone,” she said. “She’s done so much for me. I’m really thankful for her.”
Salinas is also a first-generation college student. And while she says she doesn’t have much time for extracurricular activities beyond work and school, she remains focused on what matters most - finishing what she started and being there for the people she loves.
“My younger brother is planning to attend STC soon too,” she said. “It makes me happy that he’s going to start his journey here, just like I did.”
Salinas’s story is still being written, but her dedication and quiet determination speak volumes. With support from her STC community and her family, especially her grandmother, she’s paving a path that’s entirely her own.