Finding Their Path at Gulf Coast State College

Photo By: Gulf Coast State College

When you meet Tanner Allen, a twenty three year‑old Engineering Technology major at Gulf Coast State College, the first thing you will notice is that he is very focused and confident. On a normal school day, you will find him at the campus library doing schoolwork because he finds that it’s the best place to do it.

“The reason that I decided to go to Gulf Coast is because I want to have a higher education before joining the Coast Guard”. “I knew that this was the right place for me because Gulf Coast is one of the most affordable colleges to attend. It is also a great place that I can challenge myself and where I know I will receive a good education.

Early Life & Background

Before arriving at GCSC, Tanner Allen grew up in Orlando, where they played various sports such as cross country, tack and field, and soccer. They describe their high school years as motivational and fun. His experience in high school is what pushed him into wanting to attend college.

“I enjoyed my time in high school, lots of good memories with friends and lots of learning experiences. I knew college could offer me more of that” they explained.

Life at GCSC

Going into his third year at Gulf Coast, Tanner has become invested in his campus life joining the Unmanned Vehicle Systems club where he works on the mechanical side of things. Their weekly schedule is a mixture of classes, work, and his club, and taking the time to breath between everything.

One of their favorite places on campus is the library, a great place to help them rest and think when life gets too overwhelming.

Challenges & Growth

Like many college students, Tanner has faced their share of challenges. Balancing school, work, family, and mental health isn’t always the easiest thing to do. 

“Sometimes, things just start to pile up. You get lots of projects and assignments with teachers thinking they are the only class giving out homework” they said. “But I learned to just keep calm and just try to do as much of the work as possible. Sometimes it just requires the right headspace to do.”

This growth helped shape how they approach their goals today. He know how to calm himself and stay organized and get the job done. Without GCSC he might not have figured that out.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, Tanner hopes to join the Coast Guard once his degree is finished. After joining the Coast Guard and finishing his four years, he hopes to work in green energy to help the environment for the future.

As the interview ended, Tanner remained focused on what came next. He knew he still had lots of work ahead of him to fulfill his goals, but he knew that Gulf Coast was the place that could help him get to where he wanted to go. It was the best place for him to get the right education and help the current and future generations.