More than 3,700 students were invited to Austin Community College District’s fall 2023 commencement ceremony. Friends and family will join these grads as they prepare to walk the stage Thursday, December 7, at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park.

Meet Aaron Hernandez. He began his journey at ACC in 2018, earning a certificate in HVAC before returning to school in 2022 to earn his associate degree in Marketing. 

Learn more about his ACC journey and the support he received to complete his degree.

How did attending ACC set you up to reach your goals

As a first-generation student, my goal was to finish school and graduate with a degree. I wanted to get into a line of work that would help provide a better future for my family. At ACC, I got to explore and experience different majors, which made it easy for me to figure out my full potential. 

Tell me about your time at ACC

ACC made it easy to register for classes. The office and counselors made it easy for me when I had no guidance on getting into college coming straight out of high school. I started ACC to get into the HVAC line of work. Right after I became a service technician, I wanted to go back to get a degree in a whole different major, which was marketing. 

How does it feel to be graduating

I feel proud of my achievement. I honestly didn’t know I would be on this path with the few resources I had growing up. Right now I feel like it is just the first step of my educational and career journey. 

What was your favorite part of attending ACC

My favorite thing about ACC is the amount of resources the college provides everyone. Going to different campuses and meeting different professors and staff makes you feel like people care about your future and want to see you succeed. 

Any faculty or staff you want to recognize who supported you

I want to recognize everyone at ACC’s Office of College Relations and Marketing. One of the major things I know that will help me in my future career will be the internship program I’m currently part of. I enjoyed working with and learning from such amazing, creative people on the ACC Marketing team. I would also like to recognize Liliana Tabasco, the associate director of College Relations & Communications. She became a great leader to me and my internship with ACC. She knew exactly the struggles of being a first-generation Hispanic student. I am thankful for all I have learned from her and everyone else. 

What is next for you

My plan is to get into the field of marketing and put everything I learned at ACC to the test. I would like to think this is my first step on my educational journey. I plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a university and, eventually, a master’s degree. 

What would you tell someone considering applying for college

If you’re considering applying for college, go for it. Go and figure out your path to reach your full potential. Don’t settle for less when you know you deserve more.

Tags: Career Changer, commencement, Commencement Ceremony, Fall 2023 Graduate, Fall 2023 Graduation, graduate, Marketing