Between shifts at Walmart, where he worked to relieve pressure on his hard-working single mother, a teenaged Nestor Espino set his sights on two long-term goals.
The first, earning a college degree, seemed like a necessity. The second, a career in law enforcement, seemed like destiny. And while he may have gotten the order wrong, he managed to make good on his plans, earning his Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership – 13 years in the making — from South Texas College.
A veteran Border Patrol agent with three children of his own, Espino hopes his dedication will set a tone for college and career success in the same way his mother and grandmother did for him. And even as he makes plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at UT-RGV in 2021, he’s quick to reflect on the anachronistic achievement of his “second” goal, likewise boosted by the dual influence of his mother and South Texas College.
His wife and children would patiently support Espino as he pulled 50-hour weeks at work before isolating himself to study. And just as they had cheered on the day he passed his Border Patrol Agent’s exam, they were there to celebrate his STC graduation.
For his extended family at South Texas College, Espino’s success is a shining example of the power of dedicated support. From flexible, competency-based programs to a student-first philosophy promoted by faculty and staff, STC provides a launching pad for working adults like Espino.
Maricruz Hinojosa, Coordinator of College Connections at South Texas College has seen stories like Espino’s before. A courageous, persistent person quitting college to be there for their family… before later invoking the very same grounds to return. “It’s ironic to think that the same reasons he stopped going to school years ago have now become the main motivation to continue and complete his degree,”
she reflects.
For Espino, though, it was more of a timing thing. Through a co-worker, he caught wind of the Educational Pathways for Law Enforcement Professionals program, which promised credits toward a degree for coursework he had already covered in basic academy. Suddenly, his original high-school goal was not only “totally doable,” but with hard work, less than a year from completion.
No doubt, Espino’s bachelor’s degree is a testament to his dedication and persistence. But it’s also a front-of-the-line pass to bigger opportunities in law enforcement.
Espino’s Border Patrol Academy Training is one of seven educational pathways available for college credit at South Texas College – others include, Criminal Investigation, Peace Officer Training and Field Operations.
“Not only are they able to obtain college credits for their academies but they are also able to complete their degrees 100-percent online,” says the coordinator.
Visit https://bt.southtexascollege.edu/law-enforcement/pathways.html for details and eligibility information for the Educational Pathways for Law Enforcement Professionals program.