After a winding path of uncertainty, Lone Star College-North Harris Class of 2021 graduate Jesse Alvarez will be attending Columbia University in the fall.
Alvarez graduated from Westfield High School in 2016, but a struggle with his mental health forced him to take a three-year gap period before enrolling at LSC-North Harris in 2019.
“When I enrolled at LSC-North Harris, I decided to just make the best out of the situation I put myself in by trying my hardest to do what I should have done in high school,” said Alvarez. “I kept my head down, stayed in my lane, and worked hard. Even when I gathered awards and achievements, I still had not considered applying to an Ivy League because I thought my mental illnesses would forever stain my academic career.”
As an Honors College student, Alvarez earned his Associate of Science degree with summa cum laude distinction. Alvarez also participated in the National Model United Nations team, was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and selected as a winner of the 2020 Chancellor’s Essay Contest.
While at Columbia, Alvarez plans to study Psychology, focusing on social and biological psychotherapy so he can help others who are going through the same struggles he endured.
“As someone who has a social anxiety disorder and depression that led to suicidality, I feel like it's my calling to treat people who suffer from similar conditions as myself since I've been there myself,” said Alvarez. “I've been on the other side of the table where they would be sitting.”
Summer and fall registration continues at LSC-North Harris for current and future students, offering more than 30 programs to choose from, including associate degrees and certifications in a wide variety of subjects, a bachelor’s degree in construction management, and many academic transfer courses – all at an affordable price.
LSC-North Harris is hosting an Open House on Wednesday, June 8, from 3 – 6 p.m. to provide students the opportunity to learn about the college’s programs of study and receive guidance through the admissions, registration, and financial aid process. Attendees will also have the chance to win prizes, including a smart TV.
For information about Open House, the college’s summer hours, or register for classes, visit LoneStar.edu/LearnMore.
Lone Star College enrolls over 80,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2021 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education and ranked 35th in Texas in the Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers By State’ list. LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.
Jesse Alvarez graduated from LSC-North Harris in 2021 with his Associate of Science degree and will attend Columbia University in the fall.
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