Motivation: TSC gives Criminal Justice student path to success, service

With only a few months left as a Texas Southmost College Scorpion, Juan Hernandez is using the time he has to continue growing, learning, serving and making memories that will last a lifetime.

The 20-year-old will be earning an associate degree in criminal justice this spring and said he is grateful for everything TSC has given him.

“It feels great knowing I’m about to graduate,” he said. “All of the pressure and stress of doing well is about to pay off.”

This is an especially proud moment for the Brownsville native because he will be the first from his family to earn a college degree – an expectation set by his parents at an early age for the oldest of three children.

“I hope this moment in time serves as a motivation for my younger siblings,” said Hernandez. “College is my family’s No. 1 priority. I’ve always been expected to be the best I can and to strive for the best, and TSC has made that feat easier.”

With a passion for law enforcement that was discovered at a young age, choosing to attend TSC for its Criminal Justice program was a no brainer for Hernandez.

“Not only was TSC affordable and close to home, but it was also my first step toward a career I’ve aspired to since I was young,” he said. “TSC has really shaped who I have become as a student and a professional.”

He added that it’s the lessons he’s learned from his instructors in the program that has prepared him for his chosen career path.

“I’ve always looked up to the role that police officers play in keeping us safe and serving our community,” said Hernandez. “But there is so much to the job. I’m gaining the skills I need to be a well-rounded professional in law enforcement and it’s all thanks to my instructors.”

Every instructor in the Criminal Justice program has extensive experience in the field with broad knowledge and understanding that is shared with their students.

For Hernandez, the lessons he has learned outside of the classroom have also become invaluable to his college education and experience.

He currently holds a work-study position at the TSC Recreation Center, has served as the TSC Student Government Association historian and is an active member of the History Club, where he also serves as historian.

“Working at the Recreation Center and becoming a student advocate and leader has been a highlight of my two-year journey at TSC,” said Hernandez. “It shaped my entire college experience and has provided me with great skills and memories. I’m really going to miss TSC.”

After this semester, Hernandez plans on transferring to a local four-year university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with hopes of becoming a police officer with the Brownsville Police Department.

“TSC has given me everything I need to continue to dream big,” he said. “TSC provides top-notch experiences and training that get you far beyond a high school diploma. There are great things happening at TSC and I’m proud to be a Scorpion.”