Robert Rivas

There are so many amazing things happening in our community. We have a rapidly growing population, a growing and thriving educational ecosystem, a lot of economic activity, and the best people. But we need more - trained workforce, housing, childcare, healthcare opportunities etc

Hands down at our commencement ceremonies. There’s something special about our graduates being celebrated by their families and our OC community.

Odessa college is preparing students for the jobs of today and the future. Over 16,000 students attend Odessa college annually, and a majority of those students stay to live and work in the Permian Basin.

The biggest element - the people, who live, work, go to school, and raise their families there.

A strong workforce means greater earnings and greater investments in the community that all businesses and citizens benefit from.

It depends on the industry - OC has strong partners in industry that help us to ensure the skills necessary to be successful.

OC helps to train and educate our community to be ready for the workforce. Our CE and credit programs are designed for students to achieve strong post completion outcomes.

Without a workforce, there is no economy. The stronger the workforce, the stronger the economy.

Late last week, the @OdessaCollege team, led by our Board of Trustees, decided to pursue a 325 million dollar bond that will #positively impact the workforce of the Permian Basin for the next 30 plus years. Stay tuned, more exciting info to come…#OurFuture

A4: I’m not always the best at this. I’m very introverted, so when I let people in and share time, space, and trust with them, it’s a good sign.

A3: These questions are deep this week! I think love is a sharing of care, commitment, respect, trust, support, and empathy. It’s complicated y’all.

A2: Slowing down. I like to start every day with coffee and calm. I try to go for a massage every month. Meditation, yoga, reading, and strangely, running are all on my list of self care practices. I also love a good nap.

A1: this one is tough. I love a good romcom/romance movie. One of my faves is A Star is Born, but I’m a sucker for a good love story, so I have a whole list of favorites.

A4: Life is good y’all 😊❤️

A3: Self-care and self-love are sometimes hard for me, but I have to remind myself that these things aren’t selfish. I have a lot of routines and practices to take care of myself. It’s ok to tell yourself that you are enough.

A2: This one isn’t always easy. I certainly know that sometimes life can be hard. I’m reminded by @Pink that sometimes you gotta get up and try, even when it feels impossible.

A1: For me, it’s about seeing the silver lining. Sometimes it’s harder to see, but I’m reminded by @KaceyMusgraves that if you’re ever gonna find a silver lining, you’re gonna have to stand in the rain. Believing in the light is a good place to start.

@VP1TrueAnderson Let’s gooo!

A1: I have a lot of things I want to accomplish this year - run 750 miles, ride 1000 miles on my bike, complete 100 strength workouts, practice yoga more, meditate more, and read a book every month.

A4: Believe in yourself, and work on setting realistic and sustainable goals. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

A3: small wins help you to stay motivated.