Desiree, a sophomore at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, photographed on campus on Feb. 12, 2026. She is a junior pursuing biology, aiming to go into coral conservation. She appreciates the range of academic and mental health resources the university provides, especially the English Center. She enjoys sitting under the gazebo at night to unwind after stressful days.
Reflecting on college life, she says, “Before college, I would never study for a test and I’d just do well. Now it’s so hard.” She adds, “I learned how to study and manage my time.”
Jay, a student and resident assistant at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, photographed working in the Miramar Housing office on Feb. 11, 2026. A junior majoring in business management, he also works two other jobs, including a corporate position. He likes to stay busy and values a strong work ethic. He enjoys learning new things and maintaining professionalism, chasing a sense of achievement in life.
He says he loves the people. “I’ve been working with different students, students from all over the country, all over the world.” He adds, “I work with a lot of professional people, and this job helps you communicate with others, build networks, and form relationships.” For Jay, he says, it’s all about communication.
Allison Viducic runs a handcrafted macramé art business, Cactus and Cord, photographed at the Grow Local Farmers Market on Feb. 12, 2026. What began as a love for plants, and a desire to find a way to hang them, grew into a full-time career. After 15 years in the restaurant industry, where she worked as a general manager, Viducic found herself unhappy. With the support of her husband, she left her job to pursue her hobby full time. Having learned macramé from her grandmother, she built her business from the ground up, expanding her collection as it grew.
Being a business owner, she said “Were all one big family trying to help support one another.” “Getting to know each others experiences so that we can help each other grow.”
Dedie, a small business owner who runs Debz Beanz, photographed at the Grow Local Farmers Market on Feb. 12, 2026. She started her business after noticing that many vanilla extracts in stores contain alcohol, added sugars, and artificial flavors. Wanting a cleaner option, she began making her own vanilla paste. All of her products are organic and natural. She notes that vanilla beans are one of the five most expensive spices in the world.
As a business owner, her work carries deep personal meaning. “I lost my 13-year-old grandson on June 2, 2024. “I started all my baked goods for him,” she says. “It’s very rewarding because that’s my goal—to raise money in his name.”
Laura Becka runs a small cottage bakery, photographed at the Grow Local Farmers Market on Feb. 12, 2026. She specializes in custom wedding cakes. For Becka, her business represents the opportunity to build something from the ground up, something that allows her to support her family. She began baking after learning from her grandmother. Previously a social worker, she found the work heavy and stressful, especially while trying to balance it with her growing business. Eventually, she decided to pursue baking full time. Her favorite part of the process is decorating custom wedding cakes.
“I do not like to bake, that’s the gory part of it,” she says. “I like to be creative. Decorating is what I really enjoy.”
Heather Loeb runs Birdy Girl Art, a business where she sells her artwork, photographed at the Grow Local Farmers Market on Feb. 12, 2026. Her journey began unexpectedly after her daughter left art supplies out on the porch for a week. While cleaning up, Loeb decided to sit down and start painting, and she never stopped. After only a year, she found herself drawn to painting birds, gravitating toward bright colors and bold black outlines.
“I have really bad depression, and it really helped me with self-care and feeling better about myself. It was like a release for me,” she says.
Joshua runs a homemade pickle company called Whitty Pickles, photographed at the Grow Local Farmers Market on Feb. 12, 2026. After tasting homemade pickles for the first time while working at Pickle Fest—a festival dedicated to celebrating all things pickle, he was inspired to make his own. What began as a hobby soon turned into a business after encouragement from friends. For Joshua, his company is a way to connect with the local community and share his product with others.
One of his proudest moments, he says, was “being a part of the Grow Local Farmers Market, actually stepping out from just selling to individual people to selling at a whole market.”
Ruby, a second-year student and housing assistant at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, photographed at the Miramar Housing office on Feb. 11, 2026. She has been working as a housing assistant for about a year, and her favorite part of the job is building connections. Her first year was difficult as she balanced work and classes, but as she grew closer to her peers, it became easier.
Through her job, she says, “I’ve learned I work very well with others,” adding, “I make friends relatively fast, if I try.”
Emily Paulison, a graduate student working on her master’s in Clinical Psychology, works at the Circulation Desk at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi on Feb. 16, 2026. She has stayed so long for the friends she has made and the enjoyment of her peers.
While working this job, she says, “I’ve learned I enjoy mapping out plans and creating time spaces for everything that needs to be done.”
Brianna, a senior studying nursing, works at University Services at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. Balancing both school and work has been hard, but it has become easier with her schedule. She has worked here for two years and still enjoys it; she stays for the friends she has made.
In order to stay on top of her workload, she says, “I have a schedule. It’s easy because I’ll block out times of the day for, like, work from this time to this, and time blocks for studying and other things. It helps me.”
Sebastian, a junior studying nursing at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, on campus on Feb. 16, 2026. He appreciates the school’s resources, mentioning the counseling office, as well as the accessibility of the University Center and campus store for on-the-go, last-minute needs. He is both eager and nervous about finishing his prerequisites and beginning the program.
He says, “Being an Islander means taking advantage of resources in order to prepare yourself for the future and not being afraid to ask for help.”