Students should do everything they can to be successful, the keynote speaker told the audience at the NW Student Success Conference Sept. 9.

Erika Beltran, a first-generation college graduate running for Texas State Board of Education, spoke to students about being a successful college student and steps to get there.

“I think that Tarrant County College has a really important role to play in our community,” she said. “I think that this is really important to the students that should be motivated to continue and should be successful.”
Beltran, raised in Fort Worth, presented her educational audio biography as well as five key points to student success.

Speaking to the 150 guests, Beltran said she wished she had the same opportunities at the college she graduated from that TCC students have.

“Looking back at the time when I was a student, I really could have used … just knowing what the campus had,” she said.

While Beltran spoke about her life at Williams College in Massachusetts, she discussed five key points to being a successful college student. First, students should find something that motivates them, that drives them and pulls them through. Next, they should be resourceful as well as get involved and foster relationships. They should also start looking ahead right now.

Beltran gave all the credit for her success to her friends and family who were there for her the entire way and gave her the opportunities to better herself.

“To me, success and school played such a pivotal role in my life,” she said. “I mean it was kind of a game-changer. Because I would be able to have an education, I would be able to have more opportunities, so I want that for everyone.”

— Brittany Mitchell