TCC international grad plans to serve marginalized communities
FORT WORTH, Texas — So many times Heejun Cho could have called it all off.
So many times, he could’ve chosen to quit.
But he didn’t.
Last month, Heejun Cho from Seoul, Korea, part of Tarrant County College Class of 2026, crossed the stage at commencement to receive his Associate of Arts degree.
Now, he’s headed to UT Arlington — as a finance major. Pretty impressive considering the fact he avoided math in high school because it seemed an “insurmountable wall.”
So, he tackled the subject headfirst at TCC. But no matter how hard he tried, his math skills lagged.
Heejun was tempted to give up but persisted.
He achieved high scores on the math-centered ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning Assessment, and the experience taught him a valuable lesson.
“There is no wall that cannot be crossed. It is important to believe that success is within my grasp.” He graduated with a 3.92 GPA.
For any TCC success to happen, Heejun first had to reach Texas. His older brother, Heeseung, recommended the College. Heeseung was in his second year at TCC when Heejun arrived.
“I was eager to embrace this opportunity with everything I had,” Heejun said. “I wanted to broaden my perspective by studying in the U.S.”
He studied finance. “As an international student my life is inevitably tied to the global economy. Constantly monitoring fluctuating exchange rates sparked natural curiosity about the financial forces that shape our lives,” he said. “I launched a personal finance blog to organize what I learned and communicate with my local community.”
Heejun says he came to view finance as an ‘economic vote.’
“When we invest in good companies, they grow and society moves in a better direction,” he said. “Capital flows to where it is needed most. I realized that learning to invest is, in essence, learning how to contribute to a better society.”
He believes finance must grow with the community, which, Heejun believes, can be trapped in a cycle of poverty because of a lack of access to economic education.
Americanized soccer provided Heejun and his friends a valuable lesson. TCC South’s Student Activities led them to try their hand (foot) at an indoor soccer tournament — and they won. It taught them cooperation and overcoming obstacles as a team. “Unforgettable,” he called it.
Heejun also joined the Korean Culture Club (KCC), where he learned to communicate with people from diverse cultures. He will always remember the Korean Moon Festival with its traditional games, food, clothing and songs.
Joan Gomez-Ghannou, coordinator of TCC South’s Transfer Center, has advised the KCC for five years and met several siblings like the Cho brothers. She recalls Heejun initially being very shy, staying in his brother’s shadow. She was surprised when he ran for club vice president for the 2025-2026 school year.
That spring the president stepped down, and Heejun stepped up.
“He excelled,” his advisor said. “He was diligent about finding engaging activities for the meetings and innovative ideas for fundraising. Heejun truly became a leader.”
After graduating from UTA, Heejun plans to return to Korea, but he is also open to working in the U.S.
“My goal is to empower others to achieve economic independence. My conviction to possess both a ‘cool head’ for rigorous analysis and a ‘warm heart for social responsibility. Ultimately, I aspire to grow into an ethical financial leader who directs capital toward a better future for all,” he said.
His advice for those considering TCC?
Don’t be shy.
“Embrace every challenge. You have nothing to lose — and everything to gain.”
Tarrant County College serves nearly 100,000 students each year, offering accessible, affordable pathways to in-demand careers and university transfer. Across multiple campuses and TCC Connect — a fully online learning option — the College partners with more than 1,200 employers to help build the workforce that drives North Texas forward. Bold Steps. Better Futures.