Congrats Grads! Resident Inspiration Interviews

RESIDENT INSPIRATION INTERVIEW: “CONGRATULATIONS TO ROBISON TERRACE RESIDENT LISA BIGGERS FOR GRADUATING FROM TEXARKANA COLLEGE!”

Lisa Biggers, a two-year resident of Robison Terrace Apartments, just achieved an amazing milestone in her life. This month, Lisa walked across the stage and received her Associate of Arts degree from Texarkana College! This achievement just adds on to a few other things that she has accomplished while living at Robison Terrace. Just last summer, she completed both parts of HATT’s Homebuyer Education Course and she has also been a member of Robison Terrace’s Resident Council for the past 9 months. But this isn’t the end of the road for her! She has plans to continue on and work towards obtaining a Bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University-Texarkana.

When asked what inspired or initiated you to start going to college?
“I didn’t want to be stuck on social security and disability my whole life!”

Did you have any setbacks or challenges while you were in school?
“I did. But I had to let go of those who were not uplifting or edifying to me. I did not have any joy.”

What was your favorite part about attending Texarkana College?
“The teachers were my favorite!”

What encouraging words would you give someone who is in a similar situation as yours who have a dream of going to college, but they feel that it may be too late, or that their situation may be too bad for them to begin?
“It’s never too late! And no matter what age you are, it gives you something to look forward to. It gives you something to do to occupy your mind. My recommendation is for someone to take classes on an actual college campus; not take classes while at home. People should go out to the classroom, socialize, and have a life.”

Is there a message that you would like to convey to anyone?
“Some people just want to sit and collect a check. That’s just the life that they choose. But you have the choice to make life what you want it to be. I did mess up at different times in my life. I’m not ashamed of the bad things I have done because I no longer do them.” But I finally just said to myself that this is not the life that I want. I wanted better.”

RESIDENT INSPIRATION INTERVIEW: “CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OAKS AT ROSEHILL RESIDENT LARINDA THOMPSON FOR GRADUATING FROM TEXARKANA COLLEGE!”

Larinda Thompson, an eight-year resident of The Oaks at Rosehill Apartments, just achieved an amazing DOUBLE milestone in her life. This month, Larinda walked across the stage for the second time and received her Associate of Behavioral Sciences degree from Texarkana College after receiving her Associate of Business Administration degree in December 2018.

When asked what inspired or initiated you to start going to college?
“I wanted to get out of a rut, and I wanted better for my children.”

Did you have any setbacks or challenges while you were in school?
“I did not really have any challenges that were big enough for me to want to quit school.”

What was your favorite part about attending Texarkana College?
“Finding out that it was not as difficult as I had expected it to be.”

Is there a message that you would like to convey to anyone?
“Nothing beats a failure but a try.”

RESIDENT INSPIRATION INTERVIEW: “CONGRATULATIONS TO PECAN RIDGE RESIDENT GLORIA WARE FOR GRADUATING FROM TEXARKANA COLLEGE!”

Gloria Ware, a three-year resident of Pecan Ridge Apartments, just achieved an amazing milestone in her life. This month, Gloria walked across the stage and received her Associate of Fine Arts degree from Texarkana College. 

When asked what inspired or initiated you to start going to college?
“I was at home with nothing to do. All I had was time and my life felt empty. So, I wanted to see what it felt like to earn a college degree. I started TC in 2016! When I got halfway through my program, that’s when I got lifted up. I knew that I needed that piece of paper to do something in life. My kids were graduating and I wanted them to know that they should do something in their life while they were young. I wanted to be an inspiration for them by accomplishing something. I wanted them to know that it would pay off if they continued their education now because you cannot reap the same benefits of your education at my age like you can at their young ages.”

Do you plan on continuing your education?
“Yes! I’m going to Texas A&M-Texarkana to get my Bachelor’s degree in General Studies.”

Did you have any setbacks or challenges while you were in school?
“Yes. There were many times when I wanted to quit. But it just stayed in my head that this was something that I wanted to do when I was younger, but I didn’t. I felt like I had let myself and my parents down. I did not want my kids to say ‘Mom, lived her life, but what did she DO with her life?’. “

Is there a message that you would like to convey to anyone?
“Even though there are so many different situations in life that are coming up, we need a job no matter what. Federal Assistance Programs are not going to last forever. And if that runs out on us, what are we going to have to fall back on? What if we go back and get a job? What is going to happen to us? Food stamps aren’t going to last forever. If everything that assists us runs out, will we be in the streets begging? Who is going to take care of us? That’s why I knew that I needed an education. We need something to help us because you never know what is going to happen. And that something for me was getting an education. It gives me stability so that I can go out and get a decent job.”