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<\/p>\nSonja Tellez, ACC biotechnology graduate<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It’s an industry that’s growing rapidly in Austin, with thousands of job openings expected over the next few years, but biotechnology isn’t where Sonja Tellez first saw herself.<\/p>\n
A high school dropout, Tellez, stepped into the ACC Biotechnology Program<\/a> feeling intimidated.<\/p>\n “A lot of my classmates already had degrees. They held bachelor’s and master’s and were coming to ACC to get more credentials. Here I was, still taking remedial math,” says Tellez. “But I had come so far already, and I didn’t want to give up. I leaned on my teachers and my husband for support.”\u009d<\/p>\n “I knew I needed to make a change, for myself and for my kids.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n After dropping out of school in the 10th<\/sup> grade Tellez worked one odd job after another to provide for her two young children.<\/p>\n “For eight years I worked in fast food and through temp agencies,”\u009d says Tellez. “I knew I needed to make a change, for myself and for my kids.”<\/p>\n She set her sights on getting her GED and enrolled at Austin Community College.<\/p>\n “Going back to school after so long while still working full time was hard and scary. Once I started though, my confidence grew,” says Tellez.<\/p>\n After earning her GED, Tellez began taking college courses and soon after found ACC’s Biotechnology Program. She took classes every semester for four years before earning an internship with Austin-based XBioTech. They offered her a full-time job by graduation.<\/p>\n “There were times I was ready to throw in the towel, but every struggle was worth it,” admits Tellez. “Not only did I find work that I love, I now have job security. I hope my kids now see the power of an education. I may be the first in my family to earn a college degree, but hopefully I won’t be the last.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s an industry that’s growing rapidly in Austin, with thousands of job openings expected over the next few years, but biotechnology isn’t where Sonja Tellez first saw herself. A high school dropout, Tellez, stepped into … Continue reading \n
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