Recent associate degree grad looks forward to continuing through bachelor’s program at MCJune 06, 2024

Anabel Diaz and Carlos Tarango are Mexican immigrants who moved to Midland in order to provide a better life for their only daughter Ana.  In 2016, the family left their home in Colonia Soto, Chihuahua, Mexico and headed 2 ½ hours through Mexico to cross the border into Presidio, Texas.  At the time, Ana had just completed elementary school in her small hometown in Mexico.  She didn’t speak any English, but she immediately enrolled in Abell Junior High in Midland.

“I remember that first day of school,” Ana recalled.  “It was so big compared to the small elementary school where I attended in Mexico of only 150 students.  I cried at school the first day, and then for the rest of that week, I cried when I got home.  For the entire first month, I begged my parents to go back to Mexico.  Fortunately, I made some great friends and the teachers at Abell were very supportive.  By the time I finished my 7th-grade year, I was understanding and speaking English and was thankful to be in Midland.”  

Ana continued to progress through junior high and high school, making A’s and Bs during her high school years.  She graduated from Legacy High School in May 2022 at the age of 17 and enrolled in Midland College the following fall as a Legacy Scholarship recipient.  In addition to being a Legacy Scholar, Ana was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.  Last month, she graduated from Midland College with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Management.

Kevin Goldsmith, Midland College instructional designer and History professor, was Ana’s academic mentor and Legacy Scholar coach.  He was very impressed with Ana’s determination to succeed in her studies.

“Ana was such a joy to coach over the past couple of years,” Goldsmith commented.  “It has been so rewarding to see this exceptionally capable individual set her own goals, surmount really frustrating barriers and ultimately achieve them. Ana brings to mind the dictum by Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to scale Mount Everest:  ‘It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.’ Ana has conquered, and it is exciting to see her begin the next chapter in her life’s remarkable story.”  

That next chapter for Ana begins on July 12 when she will marry Diego Chavez.  Then in August, she will continue her academic pursuits at Midland College working toward a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management, one of two Bachelor of Applied Science degree programs that students are able to obtain at the College.

“I started thinking about a degree in business during the COVID pandemic,” she explained.  “While I was stuck at home, I began posting pictures and videos on social media of skincare and makeup techniques.  Several makeup companies noticed the posts, and they contacted me and said that they would send me their products if I would use them in the pictures and videos that I posted.  Some of them even paid me commissions.  

“I since have stopped the social media posts in order to concentrate on my college studies.  However, the experience did get me to thinking that I’d like to venture into some type of business around the beauty industry, but instead of pursuing the cosmetology or esthetician route, I would like to be more involved in the planning, financial, management and administrative side of the business.”

Midland College’s Organizational Management degree path can be especially useful for jobs that are responsible for organizing and overseeing groups of people, like managerial, executive or human resource positions.  In addition, she is interested in perhaps pursuing a career in Human Resources.  Because her fiancée Diego works as a transporter for an oilfield equipment company, she has also considered starting a business in the energy service industry.  

“From the beginning of her first class with me, Ms. Tarango demonstrated dedication and desire for acquiring knowledge,”  Doug Johnson, MC department chair of Business Administration, said.  “She excelled in absorbing subject content during class lectures, addressing assignments designed to gauge topic mastery and verifying comprehension via quizzes and exams.  Ana has proven herself to be a ‘peak performer.’  I am assured her accomplishments will be many in pursuit of her life goals.”

Ana said that whatever she decides for her future career, she and Diego are looking forward to making Midland their home.

Photo:  Ana Tarango at the 2023 MC Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Induction Ceremony