Turning hustle into a business degree

At 19 years old, JC Valdez is already thinking like an entrepreneur.

The Business Administration major at South Texas College discovered his passion early by selling vintage clothing online, and by 18, he had saved enough money to open his first store in Pharr, specialized in providing curated vintage apparel and hosting community markets for local sellers.

Although he eventually closed the storefront to focus on school, the experience solidified his decision to pursue a degree in Business.

“I’ve always liked talking to people and finding opportunities,” Valdez said. “Business just made sense.”

Now, in his fourth semester at STC, Valdez takes classes while balancing a work study job on campus and intramural sports. He recently competed in regional and national flag football tournaments and traveled to Austin with the STC intramural basketball team. Staying involved on campus has changed his outlook on college.

“Honestly, I didn’t even want to go to college at first,” he admitted. “But once I got here and met people at Student Wellness, everything changed. It made me want to try.”

Valdez says his biggest motivation is self-discipline and setting himself up for the future. As the oldest sibling, he feels a strong sense of responsibility to make his family proud, but especially himself.

Though he initially planned to stop at an associate degree, Valdez now hopes to pursue a bachelor’s degree. His advice to other students unsure about college is simple: “Give it a shot with an open heart. If you try, at least you’ll know.”

For Valdez, success is about growth both in business and in life.