Profile

About: Hi!

I grew up in a not-too-small town called McAllen, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley. Here you will find (strangely) a bunch of palm trees and the best darn Mexican food in the state of Texas. After graduating high school with an Associate’s degree in Biology, I decided to major in Biology at UT Austin. I started out thinking of doing pre-med but quickly decided that wasn’t the life I wanted to live. I tried some research too within the biology field and also said no to that. I ended up deciding to get a teaching certificate in composite science because teaching high school was much more fun. I don’t know if I want to teach yet but we’ll see in the coming months.

I have a wide variety of interests that have been cultivated through different avenues at UT. One of my hobbies that took over my life freshman year is partner dancing. I joined Texas Ballroom, a collegiate ballroom club, on campus and now I know how to dance Standard, Latin, Swing, and Country! It is so much fun and I’ve met many of my friends through competitions and traveling. I try to go out social dancing at least once a week if not more. If you want a friend to teach you some dance stuff, give me a call!

I also ended up working for the University Writing Center at UT Austin which was one of my best career decisions ever. Every day I worked there I had the opportunity to read a bunch and talk to a wide range of people (What’s not to like?). I actually ended up hearing about T4K through a coworker at the UWC. I like reading many types of things but I’m currently in a non-fiction streak.

I’m always ready to watch a movie at any point. I am a HUGE fan of Alamo Drafthouse and anything else is subpar. When I want to sacrifice comfort for a larger screen I go to the theatre in the Bob Bullock Museum because it’s massive. Some of my favorite movies include: Mr. Holland’s Opus, The Dark Knight, and Elf. I have so much more though.

I’ve been really enjoying getting to know everyone in T4K and I can say that getting into this organization has been one of the best things to happen to me at UT. I am pushed to become a greater person and I’m learning how to be a more effective leader and giver.

Thank you for taking the time to read my page!

Why I Ride

I couldn’t articulate this feeling before joining Texas 4000. T4K allowed me to realize the power I had and what I could do to address a massive problem. It’s obvious that cancer affects millions of people all around the world. People who I’ve known throughout my life haven’t. I remember friends from high school who lost parents and I’ve known family friends who’ve lost their own children to cancer. You couldn’t help but notice the difference in the victim’s demeanor after a loved one had passed. The only thing I could do was try to empathize but I wished I could do more. Their sadness was heartbreaking and I didn’t know what else to do or say so that’s all I did. And for a while I thought I would be okay with just that.

Then I found Texas 4000. Texas 4000 provided me with a platform to enact change on a scale that I didn’t have before. Before T4K, I was taking my life and my family’s health for granted. I needed to do more because I can’t just watch peoples’ lives get changed by cancer and not do anything while I have the power to act. I’m in love with the knowledge that I have the opportunity to fight against cancer and I must take that opportunity. Texas 4000 inspired me to action. And I don’t have to face this challenge alone. In the short time I’ve been with my 2019 team I’m observing many individuals who are turning their tragedies into triggers for positive change and action. I depend on them to show me the actual challenges people have faced when being exposed to cancer. I ride to support the mission of Texas 4000 as well as to inspire hope to further generate positive action. I will not falter in that goal.

If you have a story that you’d like to tell about your experience of someone with cancer, please get in contact with me. I’d love to hear your story. Feel free to reach out to my email rcochran77@utexas.edu or my personal phone number (956) 225-3261.