Spring Early College Academy graduate Angela Garza speaks about campus life to seniors at her former school.

HOUSTON – Jan. 6, 2017 – Spring ISD graduates are returning to their former high school campuses, and they are bringing a lot of advice to current students. The district’s annual alumni day on Jan. 6 allowed high school students to interact with graduates who were home on winter break from their colleges and universities.

The graduates started a day early at Carl Wunsche Sr. High School. Students from last year’s graduating class spoke to ninth graders at Wunsche’s Commitment to Graduate ceremony Thursday evening, Jan. 5. Each year, the Wunsche ninth-grade students make a pledge to graduate with their classmates, to keep up with their studies, and to participate in community service activities.

Gia Dao was a Wunsche student who graduated last year. He attends college at Brown University, but returned to encourage current students to work hard for their success.

“The reason people are successful is because they stake a claim to it,” Dao told the students. “Refuse to quit. Put in the work and make the sacrifices necessary in order to achieve your goals because your future depends on it.”

Over 120 Wunsche alumni registered for panel discussions and other interactive sessions scheduled for the next morning.

Spring Early College Academy alumni participated in an array of meetings with students, parents and school faculty during the school’s alumni day activities. While topics ranged from scholarships to fields of study, the juniors and seniors really wanted to know about campus life and moving away from home.

Angela Garza graduated from the academy in 2015, but returned from her college in Missouri to assure the students that they will be alright if they find themselves alone in a new environment.

“Campus life may put you out of your comfort zone, but making new friends and joining campus organizations will help. I have really enjoyed my life at college because I’m so involved in the community,” Garza told the group.

At Westfield High School, graduates answered questions in classrooms, and then gathered at a long row of tables near the cafeteria to speak to students during lunch. Westfield graduate Alexandria Watson is studying anthropology at the University of Texas, and said the Westfield students had a lot of questions about campus life.

“We talked about time management, so you don’t get stuck in stressful all-night study sessions. You have to take care of your mind and body,” said Watson.

Campus administrators across the district were thrilled with the large turnouts by their former students for this annual event.