Hispanic Heritage Month Speaker Inspires Upper School Students 

On Wednesday, October 9, Upper School students listened to Maria Mason share her story in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Mason grew up in poverty in the Texas panhandle, where she would have to skip going to school at times to help her family work to make ends meet. Years later, her family settled in Fort Worth, where everything began to change. She and her family lived in a two-bedroom apartment off Las Vegas Trail, where she said they only left the house for school, work or the grocery store because of how dangerous it was. In seventh grade, she toured TCU and that sparked her dream. She graduated from Western Hills High School and went to Tarrant County College, where she met Susie, her advisor.

Susie became a special person in her life. Susie helped her through the application process to TCU, and Mason thrived from there. She graduated from the Neeley School of Business as a first-generation college student. Her career started with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and later, she moved to work with her husband at Mason Real Estate, his family’s company. In October 2020, they launched Camino Real Estate, which has become a top real estate company in the DFW area. Mason also serves as President of the TCU Hispanic Alumni Alliance and is the President-Elect for the TCU National Alumni Board.

Wrapping up her presentation, Mason told the students to find their “Susie,” someone who has helped them. Send them a text or email thanking them. She also challenged the students to find someone to mentor or to give back to someone in need. She encouraged them to find ways to help others around them. Mason’s presentation was an inspiration for everyone in the room.