Arts & Humanities

The Fab Five: Last Of Five Siblings Graduates From Texas A&M

May 12, 2017

Sanchez siblings pose together
The Sanchez siblings, from left: Carla Robinson ’13, Marcello Sanchez ’17, Nydia Sanchez ’08, Paul Sanchez ’10, and Heidi Sanchez ’15.
By Susannah Hutcheson, Texas A&M University College of Liberal Arts

Texas A&M University College of Liberal Arts senior Marcello Sanchez is a first-generation college student in the Department of Sociology who graduates this week and plans to start his career in the United States Army. He is one of five siblings, all of whom graduated from Texas A&M.

Sanchez said being the fifth member of his family to attend Texas A&M was helpful not only academically and socially, but also with his family’s involvement in his college journey.

“When my oldest sister got her Aggie ring, none of my family showed up for her Ring Day,” said Sanchez. “But by the time it came around for me, my mom had every event on her calendar: Ring Day, Parent’s Weekend, Final Review…everything. She was part of it all and knew all of our Aggie traditions too.”

Originally from Brownsville, Texas, Sanchez says his interest in sociology stemmed from a desire to understand how society functions, especially after he became more aware of what he describes as his “place in the world.”

First-generation college students, who make up one-third of the College of Liberal Arts, face unique challenges compared to other students, Sanchez said. “In college I became more aware of myself as a first-generation college student, as a Hispanic man from a low-income family. Majoring in sociology seemed like a good place to start learning new concepts to better understand myself – and others – in relation to society.”

He specifically remembers being surprised by the notion of money as graduation gifts—he says he worked for two years to earn his “graduation money.” Growing up with a single mom alongside four brothers and sisters, he said work for him has been constant since he was 16.

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Sanchez is a cadet in Company D-1 with the Corps of Cadets, works part-time at Duncan Dining Center, and is an active member at Antioch Community Church. He is also active in the National Guard, which he joined while at Texas A&M to support himself financially.

“I think classes are already challenging enough on their own, but when you have to pay your own way, without the financial assistance of parent loans, it can be difficult to find the time to have the same college experiences as everyone else,” said Sanchez. “You can feel left out and isolated from others.”

While Sanchez loved his time with the Corps, he said he also enjoyed being part of the Liberal Arts community. “My favorite professors have always been in the College of Liberal Arts,” he said. “They seemed to me to be the friendliest and made each subject the most interesting.”

Sanchez said the best lesson he has learned through his time at Texas A&M has been the importance of discipline. “If you want to get good grades, you need the discipline to study. If you want to get in shape in the Corps, you need the discipline to work out and eat healthy,” he noted. “It’s going to seem painful at first, but eventually, you will reach your goals.”

He said this discipline will pay off in his next phase of life—he leaves for Basic Officer Leader Course in the fall and plans to become an Army officer.

“I know it’s not going to be easy, that it’s going to be tiring and difficult,” said Sanchez. “But I look forward to overcoming the challenges and starting this next chapter of my life.”

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