On a journey to help others

Glacie Cabrera didn’t always know what she wanted to do after high school, but through her personal experiences and time at South Texas College, she has found her purpose, which is to help others.

“I had no idea what I wanted to study,” Cabrera said. “But I use to volunteer at a recovery program and work with young people, that’s when I realized I really liked helping others. That’s when I decided to go into psychology.”

Cabrera ‘s journey toward helping others began with the Palmer Drug Abuse Program, where she was a mentor to youth struggling with substance abuse. Her own experiences as a teen helped her connect with others and led her to want to learn more about mental health and recovery.

“I was in that program myself when I was 16,” she said. “By the time I was 18 or 19, I was mentoring other youth. I learned so much and just wanted to give back.”

Now a student at STC, Cabrera is getting close to finishing her associate degree and is also working on campus as a student tour guide as a member of the Student Ambassadors program.

“I love being a tour guide and helping new students feel welcome,” she said. “I didn’t know anyone when I first started at STC, but now I’ve made friends and feel like I’m part of a family.”

Cabrera said she first joined Student Ambassadors by chance, after getting hired as a work-study employee in the College Connections department. But it quickly became one of her favorite things about college.

“At first, I was just doing it because it was part of my job, but now I love it,” she said. “We go to events, give tours and make connections with other students. It’s helped me grow a lot.”

Cabrera plans to continue her education after completing her associate degree. She hopes to stay at STC and earn her bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership.

Outside of school, she works parttime at a local clinic and helps care for her 11-year-old sister, who has Down syndrome. Her mom stopped working to stay home with her sister, so Cabrera has taken on more responsibilities.

“I do it for my mom and my sister,” she said. “They keep me going. My mom has always pushed me to follow my dreams.”

She encourages other students who might be unsure about their future to take the first step.

“It’s okay not to have it all figured out,” she said. “STC gave me the support I needed and helped me find a direction.”