Let Your Positivity Come Through
Student of the Week: Hector Lara
“It shouldn't really be about the school that you go to that makes you successful. It shouldn't be the name that defines the rest of your legacy. It should be about the work that you do and how far you were willing to go. That is really going to take your name above and beyond.”
Creativity and enthusiasm are the cornerstones of a quality education at South Texas College, according to Hector Lara. In fact, bringing a positive energy to campus everyday only exemplifies a life dedicated to the arts, Lara said.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Hector said he and his family traveled constantly when he was young, but eventually settled in Chicago for more than a decade. When it came down to choosing a college, Hector said he received his share of offers, but opted for STC due to the low cost and the opportunity to work closer with faculty.
“I moved down here to McAllen due to a job opportunity that was happening with my father about three years ago,” Hector said. “So senior year was difficult, especially during the COVID pandemic, it was a lot, but I got accepted into a few (colleges) until I started thinking ‘Why are you going to spend so much money on tuition? You can get that same degree or you can get that same amount of education with more personal work down here at STC’.”
Hector has opted to study Drama at STC, and is slated to finish in 2023 with the hopes of entering a career as a costume designer. Always the creative type, Hector says he looked for a career choice that could enable him to fulfill him artistically, which was something he found in design.
“I was always a theater kid (and) I did a lot of theater when I was in high school as well as middle school too, so I always had a drive for theater. But it wasn't until like senior year that I kind of realized that I wanted to be a costume designer,” Hector said. “One of the places that was recommended to me was STC. I enjoy creating characters, and when it comes to creating costumes you begin to establish these characters, what do they wear, what they're like? That's why I want to pursue it.”
The Drama program at STC is intended to provide students with a foundation in the basics of sound theater practices, and is catered to those seeking employment in the entertainment and media industries.
With an Associate of Arts degree in Drama from STC, students will have attained the pre-professional foundation skills necessary to compete for beginning positions as technicians and/or performers. In addition to career options in the field of Drama, students with AA-Drama degrees may also choose to pursue advanced degrees in related fields such as television, film, radio, industrial presentations, arts management, and public relations.
“It shouldn't really be about the school that you go to that makes you successful,” Hector said. “It shouldn't be the name that defines the rest of your legacy. It should be about the work that you do and how far you were willing to go. That is really going to take your name above and beyond.”