Mary Cardenas is pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice in hopes of becoming a probation officer in the future.
To live the good life means different things to different people, but to me it means building a secure future and a happy home for me and my little boy, Elijah Ray. And I am currently taking steps to make that happen by pursuing my education at South Texas College. My family means the world to me and earning a college degree is my way of constructing a good foundation for our future.
I decided to come to STC because I thought it would be a good place to start my studies and my brothers, who attended the college, recommended it highly. They motivated me to attend, and I’m very glad I listened to their advice. I’ve had the chance to meet some incredible people, discover more about my strengths and grow as an individual. Although I wish I had started earlier, my time at STC has been a great experience and now I realize how important a college education is in succeeding in life.
I am currently in the Criminal Justice Program and my goal is to transfer to a university to earn my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a probation officer after I graduate. As a probation officer, I will be responsible for providing supervision to individuals on probation or parole and assisting in their rehabilitation. It may not be a glamorous job, but I know that I will be making a difference in the safety of our communities by keeping criminals off the streets and helping those who are reformed and ready to be released back into society.
I believe in the good in people and I want to help others realize their self worth and see the positive things that can come from living a crime-free life. I feel a sense of responsibility to make sure that cities are safe for future generations because I want to ensure my son has the best quality of life possible.
If I could have lunch with anyone I would have to say Gloria Sandberg, a very dear family friend. Although she has passed already, growing up she had a great impact on my life and taught me good morals and values to pass down to my son.
What are some fun facts not too many know about me? Most people don’t know this, but I used to sing at the church I used to attend and enjoyed singing with the group of girls in many churches in Mexico.
What are some of my hobbies? I like to talk to my boyfriend on the webcam because he lives out of state. But soon he will be moving here to attend classes at STC, and I am overwhelmingly excited and anxious to start a new life with him and my son.
I also love to listen to rock music with Elijah. He head bangs like a pro!
