Angel Solorio motivates himself by finding the best environments for success.
His journey to achieving academic success is linear on paper, as he attended Phoenix College, a community college for his associate degree before enrolling at the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC). However, a father figure with a criminal background and an upbringing from a single mother meant that his home life was inconsistent, and he cites there were numerous factors that had the potential to derail his progress and prevent him from achieving success.
“I have to deal with a lot of temptations that can lead me away from my studies,” he says. “I just think about the way I grew up, and living with those problems.”
Now, as he nears graduation, Angel’s drive to finish school and find his ideal employment are reflections of his hard work and focus. Thinking back on his life up until this point is another way he pushes himself to keep moving forward.
“I have a lot of grit and resilience that have pushed me to get my college degrees. Without those characteristics I wouldn't know how I would have made it this far,” he explains.
Fighting Obstacles to Reach Success
Angel grew up in a small town in Northern California. His father was incarcerated when he was two years old and remains there 28 years later as Angel approaches the completion of his degree. He only had his mother and sisters growing up, so things were tough in most situations, so he had to look outward to find inspiration and support.
Luckily, his support system was always close by. Angel is part of a very large family, stemming from his great-grandmother’s seven children and their own families. His grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles mostly all lived within blocks of each other, and he still has a connection to those relatives today. This support system of people acted as a reason of purpose for Angel as he moved through his formative years in school.
“Being able to attain a bachelor's degree was a product of coming from a caring family even though he didn’t have a dad,” he says, “I am sure I will make a lot of people proud of my hard work.”
Most of Angel’s family are also involved in business in some capacity. Since his siblings attended college in business, he looked to them and their successes to follow in their footsteps.
“We all aim high,” Angel says. “We all have fantastic ambitions, go to good colleges, and raise good families.”
An inconsistent home life meant Angel learned to be a self-starter. He experienced a period of homelessness during his academic career. Time spent in homeless shelters did not affect his grades, however, and he maintained straight A’s while living in two different centers. To support himself financially throughout his education, he also worked in warehouses in between his programs.
Above all, Angel strives to be a good person. He attends church that his uncle introduced him to at a young age to combat any distractions that might arise during studies and work.
“I try to motivate myself as much as I can as a professional, and aim high, reach goals, be a role model, be a good guy,” he says.
Staying Involved and Looking Ahead
Those principles apply to his educational journey as well. Angel enjoys the holistic experience of UAGC, where he finds his classes and teachers to be enjoyable, and appreciates the balance of working and taking classes online. Being on the Dean’s List every year and maintaining a 3.95 GPA is a product of his hard work, as well as the resources that UAGC offers.
“I appreciate all the tools,” Angel says. “I appreciate the learning opportunity, and I love the fact that they're supportive of me.”
Beyond his classes, Angel remains involved in several communities. While pursuing his associate degree, he became a member of Phi Theta Kappa, an honors society that focuses on members of two-year programs. His involvement at UAGC runs even deeper. After participating in the UAGC CHAMPS Peer Mentoring program and experiencing its benefits, he decided to give back by becoming a CHAMPS mentor to help usher new students into their collegiate experience with his guidance and advice. He was also accepted into the Honors Program and is taking honors classes as a senior at UAGC. Angel also is a member of the University’s LatinX club, and he will also graduate from UAGC with Latin academic honors, meaning he will receive a variation of a cum laude distinction.
Those associations have done more than fill his time. Forming relationships with his peers and mentors is a touchstone of his collegiate experience.
“They're important to me because I made those connections,” says Angel. “I feel like those connections are necessary in school and in your career.”
Now, Angel is searching for that career. A bachelor’s degree in marketing aligns with his legacy in business, and he hopes to find part-time work in his field while he finishes his program. He ultimately desires a role in the marketing sector, with careers like marketing consultant, public affairs, public relations specialist, marketing assistant, marketing analyst, social media manager, social media consultant, salesperson, and marketing manager all on his radar, he says.
Angel’s aspirations also include earning a master’s degree after completing his UAGC program. Through it all, he will keep surrounding himself with a supportive group of role models and inspirations to carry him through.
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