19
November
2019
|
16:18 PM
America/Chicago

Valley Scholars President gets involved

Student of the Week: Merricka Perez

In high school, pre-pharmacy major Merricka Perez says she just got by.

She was a band kid who was content playing her baritone horn and hanging out, rather than moving up the ranks.

So when she asked herself if she could handle the big role of Valley Scholars President in her first semester at South Texas College she knew it would be a challenge. It was also a good opportunity for her to come out of her shell and do more.

“One thing I didn’t like about myself was that I never gave back, I always took, never volunteered.” Perez said. “I knew I needed to step it up, so I went ahead and convinced my peers in Valley Scholars that I wasn’t an average person and won the election for president.”

Perez says thanks to Valley Scholars she now has a support system across all of STC’s campuses.

“What’s really cool is not only do I get to participate, I also get to connect with people that helped me with my scholarship.” Perez said.

Her interest in pharmacy began with classes she took in high school to earn her pharmacy technician certificate.

“I definitely say the amount that you give is the amount you’ll get back,” Perez said. “If you want to go into pharmacy, you obviously have to study. Just be genuine, that’s all I can say.”
STC Student of the Week Merricka Perez

Now she is pursuing her Associate of Science in the pre-pharmacy pathway which aims to prepare graduates for application to a pharmacy school, a 4-year program leading to licensure as a pharmacist.

While the program doesn’t guarantee acceptance to a pharmacy school, it prepares students with opportunities to take pharmacy school prerequisites and review for the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT).

She selected STC because it lined up with her goals and proximity to home.

“STC was a good fit because it’s close to home, which is always a good thing,” Perez said. “College is expensive, so being here is a good benefit. I’m not sure where I want to go to after STC, but I want to go to pharmacy school.”

Perez works part-time and juggles her responsibilities as a pharmacy student and president of Valley Scholars. There are times that she even has to dial back just how much she does.Her message to fellow students and future applicants to the Valley Scholars program is to do the work and watch it pay off.

“I definitely say the amount that you give is the amount you’ll get back,” Perez said. “If you want to go into pharmacy, you obviously have to study. Just be genuine, that’s all I can say.”