STC graduates lean on each other to go from paramedics to nurses

South Texas College’s fall 2025 commencement marks a major milestone for graduates Sylvia Gonzalez, Samantha Guerrero and Jason Farias, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) alumni, who will now walk the graduation stage on Saturday once again, this time as newly licensed registered nurses.

Each carried a different challenge, but none walked the path alone. Gonzalez crossed the border daily to attend class, Guerrero balanced single motherhood and a full-time job throughout her studies and Farias, a firefighter and veteran, pursued a third career.

Together, they leaned on one another to push through setbacks and achieve their goal of becoming nurses and entering a whole new profession.

“What pushed us and helped us decide to take this new path was knowing we were going to be together through such a rigorous program,” Guerrero said. “It wasn’t just studying. It was keeping each other lifted, reminding each other about quizzes and schedules and giving one another the motivation to keep going.”

The trio graduated with a Paramedic associate degree from STC in spring 2024 after earning both their Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic and Advanced certifications. They then embarked on STC’s Paramedic to RN track, an accelerated 12-month pathway that allows paramedics to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).

“Both jobs truly strengthen each other,” Farias explained. “In the field, my nursing education helps me recognize medications and understand signs and symptoms, and in the hospital, my paramedic experience helps me prioritize what really matters and stay focused during emergencies. Our instructors also said we were strong with the hands-on skills and scenarios, and I believe that comes from doing both. They are different roles, but together they make you a better caregiver.”

Before they ever put on white coats or dreamed of becoming nurses, each of them started their journey from a very different place.

Farias, 22, enlisted in the Army National Guard at 17 and served as a mechanic before enrolling in STC’s Fire Academy in 2022, an aspiration that eventually led him into the EMT program and now nursing.

“I couldn’t have done it without this college, it has given me plenty of opportunities since day one,” Farias said. “The fact that a firefighter can move into EMT, an EMT can become a paramedic and a paramedic can move into the nursing program is unique. All of it is in one place and that’s hard to find. I’m grateful I came to STC.”

Guerrero,25, is a single mother from Donna who never thought college was possible when she became a mother at 18. Looking into a pathway in nursing, she decided to try the EMT program, and the rest was history.

“Getting pregnant so young came with a lot of life challenges, but it ultimately pushed me to do more for my son. It was just me and him and I knew I had to find a way to go to school and be better,” she said. “Having the opportunity to learn all aspects of the health care field helped me discover that I’m drawn to the behavioral side of care. I like talking to people and understanding what they’re going through because some of us have been through those times too.”

Gonzalez, 24, was born in McAllen and raised in Reynosa. She overcame language barriers and the daily challenge of crossing the border to attend school after beginning her education in the United States in 2022.

While completing the nursing program, she also worked part time as a lab assistant in STC’s EMS program. She is now moving to Jackson, Tennessee, where she has been hired into a nurse residency program as a new graduate.

“My ultimate goal is to be a flight nurse or a paramedic. I can do both, so whichever opportunity comes first,” she said. “It’s amazing to be able to say, ‘If you need a paramedic, I’m ready. If you need a nurse, I can do that too.’ I never thought I would have these possibilities and I’m so grateful to the college for offering them at an affordable rate. Having the opportunity to work here and now see my instructors as peers has been incredible. I leave with so much pride and gratitude.”

The three graduates officially became registered nurses this past October when they passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). With their licenses in hand, they have already stepped into the field.

Guerrero now works at Valley Baptist Health System, where she continues to build the experience she hopes will one day lead her to becoming a flight nurse. Farias works in the emergency room at a Level I trauma center within South Texas Health System, bringing his background as a paramedic and firefighter into every shift.

“It’s still emergency care, so I’m not too far from my roots,” he said. “Being a nurse now expands our opportunities to help people. As paramedics, we can only do so much and provide temporary emergency care. As nurses, we can now connect more with patients and refer them to additional resources.”

The trio also plans to continue their education by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) at STC as they work toward their career goals. They credit STC faculty for helping shape not only their careers, but their confidence in what comes next.

“They never gave up on us,” Guerrero said. “They saw what we were capable of before we did and that support is what helped us get here.”

The three grads are among more than 2,800 graduates who will receive a certificate, associate degree or bachelor’s degree during STC’s Commencement Ceremonies at Bert Ogden Arena on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.

For more information on STC programs, visit southtexascollege.edu.