When Andrea Ramirez lists off her roles during her senior year at Houston Christian University, most people’s jaws drop.
In her final year as a Husky, Andrea served as a Resident Assistant for Husky Village, Student Programming Board President, Hispanic Student Organization President, McNair Fellow for the Archie Dunham College of Business, member of Mingo’s Entourage and somehow, she managed to graduate Summa Cum Laude.
“I loved every one of these roles dearly,” Andrea says with her signature enthusiasm. But loving them and actually pulling it all off? That’s where the real story begins.
A typical week for Andrea began at 8 a.m. and didn’t end until midnight. Mondays meant three classes followed by HV meetings. Tuesdays and Thursdays, she’d work remotely for her tax internship at Desroches Partners, LLP from 8 to 11 a.m. before diving into classes and one-on-ones with mentors.
Wednesdays were her marathon days—classes, Student Programming Board office hours spent booking food trucks and planning events, HSO officer meetings, and Duty Nights that kept her out until the stroke of midnight.
“Writing it all out, it doesn’t seem like much, but I seem to have used as much hours in my day to get a lot done,” she reflects.
Between classes, meetings, lunch dates, and events, Andrea squeezed purpose into every possible moment. Her secret weapon?
“I valued time management more than anything! Any time I had an upcoming meeting, exam, or project, I would instantly put it on my TimeTree app.”
While Andrea treasured all her leadership positions, two stood out as game-changers. As SPB President, she got to create moments of pure magic on campus.
“Nothing can compare seeing students and staff’s faces when they see what new tricks come out our sleeve. We were able to bring horse carriages to campus, that was one for the books for sure,” recalling one of her favorite events she helped plan while in office.
As a Resident Assistant, she found joy in the everyday connections. “Being able to meet new students and even reconnect with some of my former GO/FYS students, was one of my favorite things helping out at Building 2 in HV.”
Behind every accomplishment was Andrea’s unwavering motivation: making her parents proud. Her mother returned to Houston Baptist University (now HCU) and graduated with a degree in Bilingual Education while pregnant with Andrea’s younger brother. Her father came from Mexico seeking a better future and built a thriving career through sheer determination.
“Everything I’ve accomplished is rooted in the sacrifices my parents made for me,” Andrea shares. “I was told to value the privilege of attaining an education, and I knew giving up was never an option.”
Her daily routine reflected this dedication.
“Every day I would do a quick prayer to the Lord to prepare me for what I had up ahead.” She paired spiritual grounding with practical tactics, using every gap in her schedule productively and crucially, making time to wind down with friends.
Of all her “lasts,” one moment rises above the rest: the final Late Night Breakfast.
“Setting it up as our beachy farewell luau, it was the event I hold the closest to me because it was the last time I would be doing what I loved,” she remembers.
After cleaning up the Baugh that night, reality hit. When SPB surprised her with a framed photo from Fall’s Late Night Breakfast, the tears flowed freely.
Looking back on her whirlwind senior year, Andrea’s takeaway is simple but powerful:
“This season taught me that I am very resilient.”
Her advice for students trying to balance it all? “In order to be excellent, you need to be present first. You need to know your goals, and what’s important to you.”
Andrea Ramirez didn’t just survive her senior year, she turned it into a masterclass in showing up, leading with heart, and soaking up every single moment of the Husky experience.
