Looking back on your time at the Rawls College of Business, what’s been your most memorable experience or highlight?
For me, every semester brought new experiences and highlights that I will cherish for years to come. However, the experience that stands out to me the most occurred over the last year while serving as a student assistant for the Rawls Undergraduate Admissions. Every day in this role (maybe some of you have seen me giving tours or standing in the McCoy Atrium around 11 a.m.), I speak to visiting high school students about admissions, majors, coursework, and all the available resources provided at Rawls. This role as a student recruiter is something I will never take for granted. I will be forever grateful that Rawls entrusted me to serve as a liaison between high school students and their future. Just four years ago, I was in their exact position. I remember the uncertainty that came with planning my future and moving to a new city on my own. Because of that, my goal was always to ensure that every student who walked into Rawls left feeling capable, welcomed, and confident that they belonged. Watching students’ expressions shift from nervous and unsure to excited and motivated became not only the highlight of my senior year, but of my entire time at Rawls. If even one student left feeling more confident or discovered a new path because of those interactions, then it was all worth it. More than anything, I hope to be remembered as someone who invested in the next generation of Red Raiders.
In what ways have Texas Tech and the Rawls College shaped your life?
Texas Tech, and more specifically the Rawls College of Business, has shaped my life and transformed me into someone almost unrecognizable from who I was four years ago, in the best way possible. The best decision I have ever made during my time at Texas Tech was applying to become a Rawls Ambassador during my second semester. I still remember walking into that interview with a lopsided tie and a résumé that barely had more than my name, typed in size 50 font, and my high school GPA. The Rawls Ambassadors saw potential in me that I had yet to discover for myself. Being given that opportunity changed everything. It pushed me to grow, to lead, and to give back to a college that had already invested so much in me. Through that experience, I built lifelong friendships and connections, developed as a leader, and gained a level of confidence in myself that I never had before. The culmination of all of the growth made possible by Rawls and my fellow Ambassadors has shaped my life and transformed me into the man I am today: someone my future family can depend on, someone my younger self would be proud of, and someone I hope future Red Raiders can look to as proof of how much Rawls can change your life.
What’s one key piece of advice you’d share with future Rawls students?
To any future Rawls student reading this, I have a couple of key pieces of advice that helped define my college career. First, never sell yourself short; always give yourself an opportunity. Second, use all of the countless resources Rawls provides early and often. But by far, my biggest piece of advice is to find your “why.” Why am I here? Why am I pursuing this degree? Why do I want to be successful? College is a four-year marathon that will be filled with both highs and lows. In the best moments, you will create memories with your closest friends that you will cherish and remember for the rest of your lives. But during more difficult periods, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with stress, deadlines, and uncertainty. That’s when your “why” matters most. Taking a step back and grounding yourself in your “why” and purpose, whatever it may be, will provide you with the motivation to keep going when things get tough, which they will. Especially in my final years, when coursework became more challenging and the pressure of starting my career grew, it was my “why” that kept me pushing forward. I wouldn’t be where I am today, or have the opportunity to write this, without it. Find your “why,” hold on to it, and let it carry you through the most memorable and important next four years of your lives.
What does it mean to you personally to serve as the banner bearer for the college?
To serve as the Banner Bearer for the Rawls College of Business is a tremendous honor, and is one that I do not take lightly. There are so many outstanding students at Rawls with bright futures ahead, which makes being chosen to represent Rawls something I am deeply grateful for. To me, this recognition represents not only my own journey, but the countless experiences, challenges, and growth that defined my time at Rawls. Every sacrifice and decision I made over the past four years has led to this moment, and to be acknowledged by a place that has given me so much is something I will never forget. However, this honor is not just mine alone. It belongs just as much to my family, my roommates, and my closest friends. My incredible support system stood by my side throughout this journey, and I depended on them heavily alongside my “why.” They helped carry me through this experience, and I would not be here without them. Serving as the Banner Bearer feels like the perfect ending to an unforgettable chapter of my life. But more importantly, it marks the beginning of a new one, defined by a lifelong commitment to represent Rawls and the values it instilled in me, a responsibility I will carry forward as I continue to carry the banner of Rawls in everything I do.
Beyond the education and knowledge you’ve gained, what else has the Rawls College provided to help you in your future?
Beyond the education and knowledge, I gained the greatest impact Rawls had on my future was helping me discover a career path in accounting while also giving me confidence in my abilities to succeed. When I first entered Rawls, I was a finance major. However, the entire trajectory of my life and career changed after taking Financial Accounting with Professor Bigbee. After that class, I felt connected to a subject that truly spoke to me and realized that accounting was the career path I wanted to pursue. At the time, I was unsure if suddenly adding another major after just one class was the right decision. Did I make a mistake? What if I was not good enough? How was I going to balance two majors? I voiced those concerns to every accounting professor I had across countless office hours appointments, and each one reassured me that everything would work out. Their guidance, support, and real-world career advice gave me the confidence to push myself further both academically and professionally. Because of the unwavering support and belief I received from Rawls and the Lyons School of Accounting, I am now preparing to enter the world of audit accounting in just a few months as I begin my first full-time job. Through programs like Meet the Firms, an experience I cannot speak highly enough about, I was able to build the foundation for a long and successful future in accounting and beyond. For the first time in my life, I feel confident that I have the opportunity to build a stable future for myself, provide for my future family, and accomplish the financial goals I once only dreamed about achieving as a teenager. To every accounting professor I had the privilege of learning from: thank you. People like you are what make Rawls such a special place. You saw potential in me before I was able to fully see it in myself, and without your support, I would not be in the position I am in today.
What inspired you to choose the Rawls College of Business in the first place?
My dad was the biggest inspiration behind my decision to attend Texas Tech University and the Rawls College of Business. Ever since I was old enough to understand what school even was, I was always dressed in some form of Texas Tech gear. Every college-related project in elementary, middle, and high school was about Texas Tech. I watched every game with my dad, even when I had no idea who the players were or what was happening. All that mattered to me was seeing the Double T on the screen. My dad is one of my biggest inspirations and role models in my life (and mom, you too, I love you). Growing up, I watched the incredible husband, father, leader, and professional that he became, and I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps and be just like him. To me, the first step toward that goal was attending the same university he did, which just so happened to be Texas Tech. I even chose the same major he pursued, even though at the time it was not yet called the Rawls College of Business. During high school, I never visited or seriously considered another college. Ever since I was young, I felt destined to become a Red Raider because of the impact my dad had on my life. That feeling was only reinforced the first time I stepped onto campus. The Rawls College of Business and, ironically, a student tour guide much like the role I would later serve in, welcomed me with open arms and immediately made me feel at home. Looking back now, the opportunity to attend Rawls and ultimately serve as the Banner Bearer feels like the perfect full-circle moment and ending to this chapter of my life. If I accomplish even half of what my dad has achieved, I will consider my life a success. More than anything, I hope to one day be that same source of inspiration for my own children, and maybe even for the next generation of Red Raiders. I came to Texas Tech hoping to follow in my dad’s footsteps, but along the way, I discovered something for myself: From Here, It’s Possible™.
Congratulations to the spring 2026 graduates!
The achievements of all the graduates, shown through their dedication, perseverance, and resilience, have led them to this moment, and with eyes on the horizon, the faculty and staff at Rawls College look forward to seeing all that these graduates will accomplish.
Once a Red Raider, always a Red Raider.