By: Pete Ramirez
Meet Antonio Cueto
Cueto graduated with their degree in Psychology and Journalism in May 2020. They now work as a freelance journalist for NPR affiliates. Cueto has melded what they learned at ACC, such as photojournalism, into multidisciplinary art for galleries in Texas and in a new Austin-based streetwear brand named Civil Unrest
Watch our Q&A segment with Cueto
The ACC Experience From An Alumni Perspective
Q: What is your experience with ACC?
A: I went to ACC a semester after graduating high school. I had started to go to UTSA but it wasn’t working out.
I went to ACC because it was the best vehicle to explore different career paths and it was a good school to feel comfortable in a smaller classroom setting.”
“At the same time, it’s a really good vehicle to explore different interests and get support from professors and all the resources ACC provides.
My experience with ACC was fruitful. I started out as a psychology major but during my last semester I took a journalism class with Professor Paul Brown and it honestly changed me.
I took News Reporting I and the first assignment was to go to an event and write an article about it. Being in the field, interviewing different people, and structuring a story by what you get, felt like a rush and a calling.
I fell in love with it.
Q: Did ACC meet your expectations?
A: Yeah, definitely. I went to ACC because I knew it was the best option to learn about myself and in the end, I really found out what “my purpose” was.
Q: What was the best part about your time at ACC?
A: I think making all those connections led me to bigger things. Especially working with Professor Paul Brown in general. He changed my life.
He’s a very passionate professor and he has so much experience. The way that he teaches about his profession is so contagious. It really makes you fall in love with journalism.
I started the ACC Star with him, which is the newspaper for the journalism department. I was the founding editor and that was super cool.
I think those are the best parts of ACC because it put me on a path toward the career that I wanted,.
Q: Were you involved with any other student organizations during your time at ACC?
A: Yeah, I was the Hispanic student senator for a year in student government. I was also the campus vice president for Riverside in Phi Theta Kappa for a semester and a member throughout my time at ACC.
Both organizations are pretty influential at ACC. Especially student government. Student government exists at ACC but not a lot of students know about it so it was interesting to be in an organization that has some power. I think it’s the most power that students can hold at ACC to change things and make policy.
Phi Theta Kappa was great too. They also helped me a lot with becoming a more responsible, motivated student.
They emphasize leadership a lot and that really gave me a lot of experience in leadership roles and the confidence that I need in journalism.
Q: What would you say to someone who might be unsure about attending ACC?
A: If they have a clear path toward what they want to do, then go for it. ACC is great for students that aren’t sure of what they want to do.
It really opens up so many opportunities and helps you find whatever you’re missing to make that leap forward in your life or career.
Q: How has ACC changed your life?
A: It made me realize that life isn’t so linear. There is no structure or handbook that tells you, “this is what you’re supposed to do”.
ACC taught me that life isn’t like that at all. Sometimes you’re in classes with people who are way into their careers and want to switch things up.
You don’t have to commit to one interest only, you can intertwine interests. You make up your own handbook.