Student pushes self to earn degree in three years
Brayon Wilson chose to attend the University of Houston-Victoria to bring a positive change to his family, and he’s on track to finish his degree in just three years.
“Both my older brother and uncle have spent time in jail, and I’m tired of seeing men in my family incarcerated,” Wilson said. “I decided to stop the pattern and get an education. I want to be a symbol for the other growing boys. I want to show them that they can make their own lives.”
That’s exactly what he’s doing. The Fort Worth native hopes to finish his Bachelor of Science in criminal justice in three years. He has completed his first two semesters and is taking online courses during the summer.
Wilson first learned about UHV during a college fair at his high school in Fort Worth. The possibility of earning his degree in three years caught his interest.
“After talking with the UHV recruiter, the option to finish college a year early stood out to me,” he said. “I’ve been able to receive plenty of financial aid, so even though I’m taking more courses than typical students, it’s still affordable.”
Although he’s chosen his field of study, Wilson still is thinking about his options for a future career.
“Right now, I think I want to become a lawyer,” he said. “But if that doesn’t work out, I want to become a police officer or go into federal law enforcement like the FBI.”
During his first semester, Wilson had no trouble keeping up with the workload, he said. However, when he started the second semester, he quickly learned the importance of setting priorities and keeping a consistent schedule.
“My first semester was mostly freshman requirements and basics, so I was able to goof off a bit and still get good grades,” Wilson said. “My second semester was totally different. It really hammered home the point that I had to focus and stay on top of things, because if I fell behind, it would be difficult to catch up.”
Wilson will begin is second year in the fall, and he is excited to begin taking more classes related to his major. His goal is to earn all As.
“I’m looking forward to getting into more criminal justice courses,” he said. “It’s going to be intense, and I know I’ve got to bring my A game.”
I am a Jaguar is an online feature highlighting the exceptional students who attend the University of Houston-Victoria. To nominate a student, contact Jeremy Shapiro, UHV communications manager, or call 361-570-4296.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
