Taking the next big step

Three UTRGV student athletes graduating this spring told The Rider about their reservations and excitement about the transition to life after college. 

UTRGV Women’s Tennis senior Sandra Putz, majoring in economics and minoring in statistics, is one of 36 graduating student athletes. Putz said she likes to work with numbers and always envisioned herself in a related career.

Arriving at UTRGV in the 2018-19 season, Putz said she was first a math major but figured out along the way that economics was what she wanted to do. 

“[Math] was a bit too theoretical and I wanted to do something that’s more, like, applied,” she said. “Something I can actually use on an everyday basis, kinda. So, yeah, that’s why I chose economics.” 

Taking macroeconomics during her basics with Lecturer Gilbert Cardenas made her enjoy the subject, Putz said. 

The Munich, Germany, native will go back to her hometown for a six-month internship with BMW where she will work with the finance division of the company. 

“I was really excited when I got it,” Putz said. “I was, like, I didn’t expect it because it’s a really big firm. So, I think it’s a really, like, nice chance and … I’m really happy about it and I’m grateful.”

The best advice for getting an internship or a job is to be confident, she said. 

 “If you believe you can do it, then I think the world out there is going to see it as well,” Putz said. 

She believes the internship is a step in the right direction and hopes to pursue her master’s in Germany. 

Asked how UTRGV has helped her for the next step in her life, Putz replied, “I think, just by having to do so much on a daily basis, I got more organized. So, it really helped me throughout these four years to, like, excel in the classroom. … I think that’s also going to help me now in the future to just stay on top of things.” 

Junior track and field distance runner Edward Ramos, majoring in mechanical engineering with a certificate in petroleum engineering, said the rigorous time crunch among school, athletics and being a tutor at the Learning Center helped him learn time management. 

“For sure, in the beginning, the study hall hours helped me out a lot … because I didn’t know, like, how to study,” the Harlingen native said. “I feel like doing study hours actually helped me, like, realize how to study, how much time I need to spend for school. After a while, I started getting used to the way the practice times were at, and I had to start making adjustments to make time to study for exams and for homework.” 

After graduation, Ramos plans to take a break for two to three months before attending a petroleum engineering conference in Houston, where he hopes to land a job. 

Admitting he is scared of graduating and for his future, Ramos said his fellow UTRGV peers should take advantage of internships as early as possible and talk to their professors. 

“They really helped me out with everything,” he said. “Some may be strict but they do help out students. … That’s how I found out about the engineering petroleum conference. I was talking to my professor about that.”

Ramos said he wants to stay in the Rio Grande Valley, if possible, but would not mind moving somewhere else in Texas. He plans to continue running long distance as a hobby and his long-term goal is to participate in the Boston Marathon. 

Psychology graduate student and UTRGV Women’s Basketball forward Iva Belosevic is one Vaquera who plans to continue her athletic career after graduation. 

“I want to go play overseas, professionally, for a couple of years,” the Croatia native said “… I signed with [an] agency as soon as we were done playing and I also have a couple of offers already when I get home. And I have a couple of visits also.”

Belosevic said she is excited for her next step, but it also scares her that once she is no longer a college student she will need to focus on her adult life. 

“All of a sudden, I need to focus on all these things that I didn’t care, like, you know, here, I was just playing basketball and studying,” she said “… Now, I need to find a job, I need to pay, you know, just for stuff in everyday life.”

Belosevic attributes her interpersonal skills, communication skills and overseas connections  to the UTRGV basketball program and the people around her.  

She said her biggest inspiration during her four years at UTRGV have been her parents back home.

“They’re working hard and sacrificed so many things to help me be where I’m at,” Belosevic said. “I want to, like, kind of pay them back because they made so many sacrifices for me just to start playing basketball and then to come here. … I will never be able to pay them back, but I want to give them something.” 

After she pursues a professional basketball career, Belosevic dreams of using her psychology degree to work with children in school or as a coach. 

“I’m excited about [graduating],” she said. “I’ve never actually walked in a ceremony, so that’s kind of a new thing, and I’m excited to see what the future is going to give to me.”