BOBCAT & CARTOONIST DRAWS ON EXPERIENCE WITH LBJSC

The LBJ Student Center has been a silent observer of all of the growth that Bobcats experience during their time at Texas State. From the moment you stepped into LBJSC, your evolution began. Finding your favorite places to eat, organizations to participate in, and your go-to study spots throughout the years, creates an unbreakable bond with the building nicknamed the ‘living room of campus’. For many, these walls have been a place of refuge for those who need to unwind, get involved, or find community.

Originally from Mexico, freshman Cat Flores has experienced many growing pains as a first-generation student at Texas State. Cat was forced to get comfortable with rapid changes in her life from a very young age after moving to the U.S. in the middle of her fourth-grade year without knowing any English.

“When I first moved to America, I used to hate change, and I didn’t like to adjust to different things,” Cat said. “I had to learn English by reading books. It was really challenging dealing with people making fun of my accent. It was really hard for me.”

Despite her hardships, Cat paved the way for her family by applying to Texas State after attending a life-changing tour of campus. Shortly after getting her acceptance, she enrolled in Cat Camp, a program dedicated to introducing first-year students to the pride and traditions of Texas State University.

“When I came to the Student Center for the tour, my first thought was that it was really pretty here,” Cat said. “I knew instantly that it was the right place for me. When I attended Cat Camp, it created a really great connection to the school, and made me feel like I was having the Bobcat experience.”

Adjusting to her new life in San Marcos was not an easy task for Cat. The pressures of new financial responsibilities, academic achievement, and independence felt like a weight that she couldn’t carry.

“The biggest challenge was learning to be more independent,” Cat said. “Experiencing something so new, and having so many expectations from my parents [made me] feel like I couldn’t make any mistakes. I’ve always been the perfect child, and I wanted to be more honest and true to myself.”

Looking for a free activity, Cat decided to blow off some steam with her sister and attend a movie night held by SACA showing her favorite film, Knives Out.

“I really had to fix my spending habits,” Cat said. “I started to go to SACA’s events because they were free and easy for me to get to on campus. They are such a fun pastime, and I’ve made so many friends since I’ve started going. This building holds a lot of fond memories for me.”

The communication design major has big dreams for her future, and hopes to become a cartoon artist at Disney after graduation. With each semester she feels like she is evolving into a better and bolder version of herself, and is currently working on her own webtoon with hopes of joining the University Star staff as an artist in the fall.

“I’m really excited for the future because I’m going to live a life of my own,” Cat said. “Coming from a small town, I feel like my opportunities were limited, but now at Texas State I feel like it’s endless. Being here has made me feel like I could be more me than I ever did back at home in Del Rio.”

Want to share how you’ve changed during your time at Texas State? Follow us on our social channels @LBJSC and use the hashtag #LBJSeeMeChanging to post about your personal evolution to be featured on our page.