This fall, Juan Pablo Jaramillo Gutierrez will be among the first students to be pursuing an engineering degree at the RELLIS Campus. In fact, Jaramillo is the first admitted student to the upcoming Tarleton State University Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program.
From a young age, Jaramillo was always building with legos and blocks, or taking the engines apart in his toy cars. Little did he know that his childhood interest would become the guidelines for his future career pathway.
“I didn’t even know what engines did, but I wanted to see what they were made of and how they worked,” said Jaramillo. “When I got into school I found out I really enjoyed my math and science classes and engineering really lets me put it all together.”
Jaramillo comes from an engineering family and was influenced by his dad and uncle to pursue a career in the industry. But when it came time to pick a university to attend, he decide to forge his own path.
“When I was wrapping up my classes at Blinn the RELLIS Academic Alliance was just being formed and I thought it was interesting,” said Jaramillo. “I knew I wanted to make my own career choices and coming to RELLIS just seemed to be a natural fit.”
Originally from Colombia, Jaramillo and his family moved many times throughout his childhood for his father’s work. While this was hard to understand as a kid, it helped to shape his drive and goals. Today, he looks forward to three big career goals: financial independence, becoming the best professional he can be and establishing his own engineering firm.
“I know that I am not always the best at everything, but the important thing about me is that I never give up,” said Jaramillo. “RELLIS has given me the chance to pursue my goals in my own way.”
When asked to list three reasons someone should consider coming to RELLIS, Jaramillo cited the multiple university and degree options, friendly staff and professors and networking opportunities.
Jaramillo joins over 300 other students at RELLIS this fall, all working toward bachelor’s degrees in a variety of subjects, including communications, biology, business and much more.
Originally published April 28, 2020
