How a First-Generation Student Succeeded by Switching Majors - and Social Skills

Edvin Arriaza had no blueprint to follow when he enrolled at UNT Dallas. As the first in his family to go to college, it was an unfamiliar journey. Arriaza soon found the support and encouragement that made his college experience memorable and successful. “I had help here I wouldn’t have gotten elsewhere,” he said.

As the senior majoring in Communications and Digital Media prepares to graduate in May 2025, he is not only looking forward to a full-time career, but also back at the challenges he overcame and the milestones he achieved. “It’s nostalgic looking back at all the work I’ve created, said Arriaza. “I see the growth.”

It’s not exactly what Arriaza envisioned when he arrived on the UNT Dallas campus in southern Dallas four years ago. He planned to major in Social Studies Education and become a teacher. But he felt a stronger connection to the Communications program. That’s when he decided to switch majors. “It’s one of the biggest steps” he had ever taken, he said.

Fortunately, Arriaza had a trusted mentor, Casandra Sanders, who he met through Primos Dallas, an organization that brings together Latino family values and culture with outside mentors chosen by students. “She said, ‘It’s my future, make my own path’,” Arriaza said. The small class sizes and individual attention from professors helped make the transition easier than he expected.

Sanders and others at Primos recommended Arriaza become active in his community and politically astute as a way of getting more comfortable in front of people. “I had trouble speaking and didn’t have the social aptitude,” he said. Their advice worked. When he was a freshman at UNT Dallas, Arriaza spoke out about the need for better internet access for K-12 and college students in an interview with NBC5. He even knocked on the doors of strangers while campaigning for a candidate. Arriaza  transformed from shy and quiet to outgoing and confident – exactly the qualities needed in someone studying for a career in communications.

Arriaza was so inspired that he cofounded his own group, Somos Tejas. It encourages civic engagement and educates people about politics, government and elections – especially local races and positions they may not understand, such as school board, city council, county commissioner. “You can walk into meetings, and you have the power,” Arriaza said, referring to constituents holding elected officials accountable and advocating for issues that affect their lives. “Potholes, trash. Those things don’t get done at the presidential level. When you explain it to people, they get more interested.”

Speaking up about hot topics and sharing his opinion in a public forum have become second nature to Arriaza. As a DACA recipient who attended Dallas ISD and now UNT Dallas, he has valuable insight into immigration and education – and the impact of laws on individuals and families – especially first-generation college students. Arriaza has been called upon to speak before the Dallas City Council, the State Legislature in Austin and Congress in Washington, D.C.

Arriaza even campaigned for himself, but not for a position with the Student Government Association (SGA) or another elected role. He competed twice in the UNT Dallas "Trailblazer Idol” contest. The second time, he won, for performing his own original music, not a cover like the first time. Arriaza received a book voucher and a trophy for finishing in first place. He also competed as a member of the rapidly growing UNT Dallas eSports team, playing Super Smash Bros.

But Arriaza’s main focus has been academics, thriving on the creative aspects of the Communications and Digital Media program and the passion of his professors. “The teachers have been amazing,” he said. When asked to choose a favorite, he couldn’t (or wouldn’t). “They don’t just teach you how to make something. They teach you and you’re going to make something. And they’re going to grade it and make you even better the next time.”

One memorable learning experience for Arriaza came during a hybrid course, when students had the option of showing up in-person or watching online. When the professor noticed that all students were remote and none were in the classroom, he was disappointed – and honest. The professor told students that he planned to give his favorite lecture that day. But he really wanted them to see and hear it in-person. “That struck me,” Arriaza said. The professor changed plans and waited until students could come to campus before he gave the lecture. His flexibility and willingness to accommodate students for their benefit left a lasting impression on Arriaza.

With less than two months until Commencement, Arriaza is polishing his resume and portfolio as he applies for jobs. He hopes to land a position where he can communicate with – and create content for – the community. He has advice for high school students who are deciding whether and where to go to college. “I had the right people in my network. Get involved and reach out. Be part of communities. Directly or indirectly, they have knowledge,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to be your own blueprint.”