Professor Brenda Garcia, Chair of the Cosmetology Department, moved to Laredo in 1996 without knowing English and began learning the language in high school. A Cigarroa High School graduate, she discovered her passion for cosmetology when a friend signed her up for classes. Licensed since 2000, Garcia has spent the last decade teaching future cosmetologists, including seven years at Laredo College, where she continues to share her love for the craft and her story of perseverance.