Starting Here, Going Far: Transfer Students Who Made the Most of Their Time at Dallas College

May 4, 2026

As graduation approaches, many college students are reflecting on where they started and where they are headed next. For transfer students like Jaqueline Villalobos Torres and Tanim Azad, their time at Dallas College has been about more than earning credits. It’s been about growth, leadership and discovering new possibilities.

Jaqueline Villalobos Torres

Jaqueline Villalobos Torres during TRIO trip to Chicago. Torres will transfer to the University of North Texas (UNT) this fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Though she originally saw herself going directly to a four-year school, she had a change of heart when she realized she couldn’t live at home.

While the ease of commuting to Dallas College drew her in, Torres soon saw that the decision offered more than convenience.

During her first semester at Dallas College, Torres went to class and went home. Then, during her second semester, she made a decision that changed everything; she decided to get involved.

“When I started going out of my comfort zone and began engaging with others, I became more of a leader, more confident and disciplined. Now, I want to build a career where I make a meaningful impact on others,” she said.

She values the trips she took to tour universities and to attend conferences through TRIO and Phi Theta Kappa honor society. Jaqueline Villalobos Torres at Phi Theta Kappa Mental Health Workshop.

Torres said she has built relationships here that will still be part of her life even 10 years from now. Choosing Dallas College gave her the space to grow in ways she doesn’t think she would have experienced if she’d gone directly to a university.

Torres joined the Honors Student Organization where she became treasurer and took on additional academic projects to earn an honors stole to wear at commencement.

She will graduate on May 16 with an Associate of Science. At UNT, she will major in business administration in entrepreneurship and management enterprise. Eventually, she plans to own and operate her own public-facing business. Lately, she’s been thinking of opening a gym or bakery — baking and working out are two of her passions.

Jaqueline Villalobos Torres at Phi Theta Kappa Catalyst Gala.

Tanim Azad

Tanim Azad on Capitol Hill. Azad said his path through Dallas College has provided him opportunities and options he might not have otherwise had. He will graduate with his Associate of Science on May 15 and plans to transfer. He is currently exploring his options.

He may study cyber security at Southern Illinois University, which offered him a $30,000 scholarship. Other possibilities include studying information systems at the University of Texas at Austin or studying business at Southern Methodist University.

Azad said he started at Dallas College in Spring 2024 with online classes, then took in-person classes the following Fall. After meeting Cristian Henriquez, North Lake Student Government Association (SGA) president, Azad joined the organization.

Later, he joined STEM League and the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, where he became chair of leadership. One big project he helped lead involved bringing in 12 Dallas College alumni to share their experiences.

“It was a great learning opportunity as a first-generation college student,” said Azad. The Tanim Azad takes selfie with students at Texas Junior College Student Government Association event. alums discussed topics such as how to access opportunities as well as tips for résumé and essay writing.”

Apart from the academic and social opportunities, for Azad, getting involved meant travel. He participated in a tour of historic civil rights sites as well as a visit to the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the group learned about “Black Wall Street” and the massacre of 1921.

Campus tours, including SIU, opened his eyes to options he hadn’t thought of. This past March he attended the international PTK Catalyst convention in Baltimore, Maryland.

“I think Dallas College has really transformed my life over the past two years, I didn’t know about all these opportunities before I started,” Azad said, admitting to initially feeling somewhat envious of his friends who went directly to four-year schools. “But, you save so much money, and you grow more because you have so much more support and camaraderie.”

Coffeeshop fundraiser for North Lake Muslim Student Association.

Beyond earning an academic degree, Azad said that attending college helps you to see the bigger picture.

“There are a lot of things I didn’t understand two years ago, that I see now. The opportunities are out there. You just have to look for them and have an open mind,” he said.

The experiences of Torres and Azad reflect a larger truth shared by many transfer students. Dallas College isn’t just a steppingstone, it's a place where confidence, growth and community happen.

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