When McKenzie DeLaRosa arrived at Austin Community College District (ACC), she wasn’t just starting over—she was searching for a place where she could truly belong.
In just one year, she had attended three different colleges, each bringing her a little closer to understanding what she wanted from her education and her future.
“Being at ACC for a year now, I realized that I was looking for an environment that could support my growth. I have always loved being involved with school, whether it’s through student orgs, volunteering, or work. Not only did ACC have the opportunities that I was looking for, but it also had the support to overcome some of the barriers I faced previously.”
There was a point when McKenzie considered stepping away from college altogether. Instead, inspired by her father’s determination to reinvent his own career, she chose to keep going.
“There was definitely a point where I thought about taking a gap year to just work, but I felt like I would be leaving so much on the table. Seeing him not making any excuses motivated me to keep persevering.”
That perseverance eventually led her to Austin. Moving wasn’t a carefully crafted plan. It was, as she describes it, a leap of faith.
“Honestly, I didn’t have a whole lot of confidence; I knew that the move to Austin would be a Hail Mary. But at the end of the day, I didn’t have a whole lot to lose. I felt that this was my chance to take the shot, so I held my breath and just had to believe in myself.”
Her first visit to Highland Campus almost didn’t happen.
“The day that I scheduled my campus tour at Highland, it was pouring rain. I was so stressed and tired from driving that I almost rescheduled.”
But she didn’t, and by the end of that visit, something had changed.
“From the moment I walked in to the moment I left, I felt supported, and it has been like that even now. ACC was definitely not what I was expecting, and I think that is why I chose to make ACC my new home.”
That sense of belonging quickly turned into opportunity.
McKenzie immersed herself in campus life. She joined DECA, conducted research, earned a fellowship with the University of Texas, served as a communications intern in ACC’s Office of College Relations and Marketing, and helped prospective students discover the college she had come to call home.
“The opportunity to grow and to grow fast. If you have the willingness to put yourself out there, you can really accomplish a lot in a short period of time. I was only here a year, and I was able to secure a fellowship with UT, start a club, conduct my own research, compete at an international conference, and more. I don’t say this to brag on myself but to highlight what ACC has made possible.”
Those experiences also helped clarify the career she wants to pursue.
“I realized that it wasn’t necessarily the sport itself, but the atmosphere it created. I loved the sense of unity that was created when the energy of the athlete and the fan merged. That is why I decided to set my efforts on becoming a project manager for a professional sports team.”
Along the way, she found mentors who reminded her she didn’t have to navigate college alone.
“I remember early on in the fall semester, I was crying because I was really struggling with one of my online classes. Mr. Adames took the time to console me (with zebra cakes), and by the end, he was giving me the pep talk that I needed to push through.”
Today, McKenzie measures success differently than she did when she graduated from high school.
“For a long time, I tied much of my self-worth to how much I accomplished. Now, I choose to fill my days with the people and experiences that bring me joy. Instead of going to bed mentally and physically exhausted, I go to bed with a full heart, grateful to spend my days doing the things I love with the people I love.”
This summer, she’ll graduate from ACC before transferring to a university to study management with plans to earn a master’s degree in sports management. Her goal is to one day return to Austin and work for Austin FC or UT Athletics.
Looking back, she no longer sees the unexpected turns in her journey as setbacks.
“I would tell her to stop beating herself up. Back then, I equated leaving with failure. I don’t know if I’d be where I am now if I hadn’t made the decision to leave, and for that, I will always be proud of my younger self.”
And for students whose paths haven’t gone according to plan, her message is simple:
“Don’t discount yourself. You are every bit as qualified as any other student. You can’t let yourself get caught in the doubts; you’ll be shooting yourself in the foot.”
Build your own future at ACC at austincc.edu/start.
Tags: General Studies, internship, Transfer
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