“ACC was truly the foundation that helped shape the person I am today and prepared me for what comes next.” – Antoine Gordon, ACC Accounting Student

When Antoine Gordon arrived in Central Texas from Jamaica three years ago, he was stepping into an entirely new chapter of his life.

“Moving from Jamaica to the Austin area was honestly a huge adjustment for me. Everything was different — the culture, the education system, even day-to-day life. At first, it felt overwhelming because I was basically starting over in a completely new environment away from home.”

Today, the Austin Community College District (ACC) accounting student is working toward a bachelor’s degree at Texas State University and pursuing a future in business and accounting.

“What helped me most was ACC’s environment, especially the people I met. The friends I made were very welcoming and made me feel at ease. The smaller classes made it easier to connect with professors and classmates, and I never felt like just another number. ACC gave me the space to adjust at my own pace while still pushing me academically.”

As an accounting student, Antoine has long known where he wanted his career to lead.

“I actually knew I wanted to pursue accounting from as early as the 5th grade. As I got older and started taking accounting courses at ACC, that interest only became stronger. I realized I enjoyed the problem-solving, structure, and analytical thinking that accounting requires. ACC helped confirm that accounting was the right path for me and gave me the foundation to continue pursuing that career at Texas State and beyond.”

Today, Antoine is studying at Texas State, where he continues pursuing his accounting degree. He participated in Bats to Cats, ACC’s guaranteed admissions program to Texas State University. The program is built to simplify the transfer experience and help students stay on track to earn their degree faster. Antoine says the program helped make the transition seamless and gave him confidence heading into his next chapter.

“I first heard about the Bats to Cats program through my advisor at ACC. Since I was already set on transferring to Texas State, she pointed me in that direction because it made the transition process much smoother and more organized. Texas State was able to access my transcripts directly without me having to go through extra steps, and my application fee was also waived. On top of that, I received two scholarships early on, which really helped me feel supported right from the beginning of my transfer journey.”

The experience also changed him in ways he didn’t expect.

“When I look back at the last three years, I think what surprised me the most is how much more open and approachable I became as a person. I didn’t just grow academically during my time at ACC — I grew socially and personally, too. I became more confident stepping outside my comfort zone and opening myself up to new experiences and relationships.”

His view of the profession has also evolved.

“Before coming to ACC, I mostly viewed accounting as a stable career focused on offices, banks, and traditional businesses. ACC helped me realize that accounting is not just about numbers. It’s a pathway that can open doors globally.”

When asked to describe ACC in one word:

“I would say ‘foundational’ because ACC is really where I started from ground zero. It gave me the academic foundation I needed to continue growing and succeed further in my college journey.”

Looking back on the student who stepped off a plane from Jamaica three years ago, Antoine has one message.

“I would tell him that he was going to accomplish everything he set out to do at ACC. Most importantly, I would simply tell him thank you because, despite all the uncertainty at the beginning, he kept pushing forward and never stopped believing in himself.”

To learn more about Bats to Cats, visit austincc.edu/batstocats.