Posted on December 3, 2024 by Rebekah Alegria
For San Antonio native Tyler Newman earning his master’s in finance from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business at UTSA represents years of grit, growth and gratitude.
Tyler Newman, M.S. Finance '24
Dissatisfied with his career, he left the workforce to pursue a more fulfilling path, despite the uncertainties ahead. “I wasn’t happy with where I was,” he reflected. “I needed a new path, and the M.S. in Finance program offered opportunities I couldn’t ignore.” Now, as Tyler Newman prepares to graduate, Newman sees his degree not just as an academic achievement, but as a victory over the challenges that shaped his journey and the start of a bright future.
Stepping back into academia meant stepping away from financial stability. Newman faced food insecurity, struggled to pay rent and navigated family skepticism about the value of a graduate degree. “Those early days were some of the hardest,” he admitted. “But UTSA gave me the tools to move forward.”
The support Newman received at UTSA was transformative. A research assistantship eased his financial burden, while resources like the Roadrunner Pantry helped him get by. “I learned how to make the most of what was available,” he said. “Every campus event with snacks listed on RowdyLink became part of my survival strategy.”
But it wasn’t just financial hurdles that tested Newman’s resolve. The weight of his academic workload, coupled with personal loss and stress, took an emotional toll. The passing of his grandmother and difficult family revelations only added to the strain. Through it all, Newman leaned on UTSA’s counseling services and his girlfriend, Hannah, for support. “Hannah, who I met at a graduate seminar, was my rock,” he stated. “And the counseling team helped me process everything, giving me the strength to keep going.”
Despite these challenges, Newman’s time at UTSA was marked by meaningful connections and cultural enrichment. From celebrating Diwali with the Indian Student Association to playing Lotería with the Spanish Club, he found moments of joy and belonging that punctuated his journey. “Those experiences brought light during my darkest days,” he shares.
In the classroom, Newman thrived. His finance classes gave him not only technical knowledge, but also a deeper understanding of the world around him. “Finance is at the core of how society functions,” he explained. “It’s about making sense of complex systems and finding solutions.” His dedication to the program culminated in tackling the CFA exam, a challenge he embraced with the encouragement of his professors and peers.
Now on the verge of graduation, Newman has been offered a position as a bank examiner with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and will continue towards his dreams of working in portfolio management. As Newman prepares to join the ranks of UTSA alumni, he’s filled with gratitude and pride. “This degree isn’t just about career advancement, it’s about overcoming obstacles and finding purpose,” he reflects. “Being part of the UTSA alumni community means standing with others who’ve faced challenges and come out stronger.”
His advice to others is simple, but profound. “Be vulnerable. Accept help when you need it. The strength of a community is so much greater than the strength of one person alone.”
— Rebekah Alegria
