Mega Doctor News
By Selene Rodriguez
Each morning at 6 a.m., South Texas College Dual Credit students Carol Peña, 16, Darianna Martinez, 18 and Moises Cardenas, 17, leave their homes in Miguel Aleman, Mexico, and cross the border before sunrise.
Their day stretches across two campuses as they attend classes at Roma High School for a half day before heading to college-level courses at STC’s Starr County Campus, where they are working toward an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification.
“Dual credit is double the effort, but double the reward,” Peña, the youngest of the three, said. “Just the fact that we’re getting hands-on skills to save lives and the chance to explore different areas in the field helps us see if this is really what we want to do. And the fact that we can do it at no cost is a huge opportunity.”
For the three seniors, the long days do not end when class does. Their schedule includes hospital clinical hours, long commutes and late-night shifts at a fast-food restaurant. With studying added in, the routine often pushes their day to nearly 1 a.m.
“It may seem like a complicated schedule to juggle, but it’s an effort we make for our future, and even though our journey can be exhausting some days, it is a sacrifice we are willing to make to serve our communities,” Peña said. “For us, this may feel like just school, but we remember that for someone else it could be the moment they need us, well prepared and trained, and STC allows us to experience that early.”
The students are part of Roma Independent School District’s second EMT dual credit cohort, a yearlong program at STC’s Starr County campus that will allow them to earn their certification next spring, weeks before graduating from high school.
“It’s an exciting career. Knowing we’ll have the opportunity to help people and go into hospitals really inspired us,” Cardenas said. “And the fact that we can graduate with our certificate while still in high school feels like a huge accomplishment.”
They said they were first drawn to the program after counselors introduced them to dual credit opportunities and connected them with the first group of students who graduated last April after completing the EMT track. From that moment, the idea of joining an ambulance crew, treating patients and gaining life-saving skills felt like a calling.
“We already learned CPR and so many skills,” Cardenas said. “There’s so much to learn in one year, but we’re almost halfway there. We are grateful for this opportunity to explore what our futures might look like.”
Martinez said the clinical experience they have received this semester is also helping her discover what areas of medicine she may want to pursue.
The program has shown them a possible path beyond emergency care as well. After learning about STC’s Paramedic to Registered Nurse pathway, all three said they now see a wider future for themselves in the medical field, including potential careers in nursing or even firefighting.
“We’re learning and exploring our options now that we’re doing hands-on skills,” Martinez said. “I personally love children, so I would like to go the pediatric route.”
As they near the halfway point of their program, the students are eager for what comes next, including ride outs scheduled for next semester, when they will begin practicing how to respond to real emergency calls and learn how to operate an ambulance.
Despite their full schedules, all three students also hold part-time jobs. Martinez and Peña work late shifts at McDonald’s, and Cardenas recently joined them after helping his father with the family’s food business.
“I see a group of resilient students who consistently overcome obstacles and challenges in pursuit of their goals,” said STC faculty member Henry Cortez. “I have no doubt they will succeed as EMTs and make a real difference in their communities.”
With graduation approaching in May and certification on the horizon, the trio said they feel ready for whatever comes next.
“We’re grateful for the opportunities that dual credit provides us as high school students to get ahead,” Peña said. “Roma ISD gives us everything we need, from uniforms and books to transportation, and STC gives us this chance. With all this training, we’ll be ready to answer that emergency call.”
Information sources: STC
