Daring to grow: Axli Alvarez
Seeing Axli Alvarez’s goals today — neuroscientist, CEO, and motivational speaker — you’d hardly recognize her two years ago. Back then, the Crosby High School student dodged student events and clubs. “Dare” wasn’t part of her vocabulary.
For years, others’ limiting beliefs dictated her own. A non-native English speaker with autism, Alvarez often felt taken advantage of or overlooked. But that changed halfway through high school. Hoping to grow her social skills, she pursued a communications associate degree through early college high school classes at San Jacinto College.
“I wanted to finally get started talking a bit more, and that actually helped me a lot,” she said.
When Alvarez learned she qualified for the College’s honors classes, she took a bold step — signing up. During orientation, the honors program director jolted her self-doubt with one question: “What would you do if there were no limits and you could achieve anything in the world?” Soon, she began replacing “I can’t” with “I can.”
“That trip opened me up to more,” she said. “There’s more to life than just academic
stuff. You can meet other people who have the same interests as you.”
The momentum carried over to high school, where Alvarez joined several honor societies and helped launch the Crosby Lions Club. Through the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, she even created a guide for younger high school students about earning college credit, pursuing extracurricular activities, developing passion projects, and completing college applications.
“I'm doing what my younger self wanted me to do — trying more things and achieving more,” she said.
“I have dared to grow through so many circumstances and conflicts,” she said. “And
I want to dare to grow with Vanderbilt as well and to take all the opportunities to
become successful one day.”
In May 2025, two weeks before her high school graduation, Alvarez accepted her San Jacinto College diploma. Today, she is pursuing a double major in neuroscience and human and organizational development at Vanderbilt.
Stay true to your future self, embrace growth, and seize every opportunity that comes your way.
Since childhood, Alvarez has marveled at the mind’s magical ability to adapt. She has experienced the power of reframing challenges and laser-focusing on goals. This is the same advice she gives others.
“Stay true to your future self, embrace growth, and seize every opportunity that comes your way — they can open tons of doors,” she said. “I spent my life with limiting beliefs. Don’t make the same mistakes — applied knowledge is power! Let the world see your brilliance and potential.”
Read more stories from the Chancellor's Report to the Community
About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today,
and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris
County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than
1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving
the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution
that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately
45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and
certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer
to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding
bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
