Star of the Month

LSC-Tomball’s 17 year-old Star of the Month may be young, but she already has a keen awareness of the long-term benefits of a college education. Ana María Ibague, originally from Colombia, now a resident of Spring, believes individuals must take advantage of the resources available to them. “We are in a world full of opportunities,” she says, “but it is our responsibility to take them. The only way to do so is studying and preparing for the future.”

Ibague came to LSC-Tomball to study English as a second language. She hopes to eventually attend law school and study International Law.  “I want to apply my degree to look for equal opportunities in the job market for immigrants, since they are an important factor in the United States labor force. I am not referring just the Hispanic people, but also to minorities from all over the world that can open new doors in the American market.”   

In addition to her studies, Ibague is on the women’s basketball team. She and her brother, David, left their parents in Colombia to come to Texas and study at LSC-Tomball. “Being in an American atmosphere has allowed me to establish new roles and friendships,” she says. When the time comes to transfer, Ibague is considering the University of Houston. However, she is open to the idea of garnering a scholarship to a private university. She says that the world is currently witnessing a “revolution of ideas. Innovation sets the pace of the world.” She goes on, “I think college provides me with the necessary tools to be competent in order to achieve success.”

When asked what advice she would offer college-bound students, Ibague says, “The requirements and the competition to succeed grow higher and harder every day. Therefore, education is the best tool to fulfill the qualities the market is looking for.”