Posted inEducation

A Better Fit: Finding Himself in a New School Leads Down the Right Path

Yanet O by Yanet O

A Better Fit: Finding Himself in a New School Leads Down the Right Path

From Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School to La Joya High School, Jerimiah Ortiz embarked on a journey that led him to Jimmy Carter ECHS. His decision to choose Carter was influenced by its welcoming atmosphere, the opportunity to earn college credit hours, and a strong sense of belonging. For Jerimiah, Carter stood out as the ideal environment in which to thrive academically and socially.
“I got inspired to choose Jimmy Carter because I wanted to be able to have some college hours,” Ortiz said. “Also, the previous high school I went to (La Joya High) made me feel like I wasn’t going to fit in.”
Before coming to Carter, Jerimiah Ortiz had developed interests during his middle school years at Zavala MS.
“Before I started my freshman year I was in the middle school Lorenzo De Zavala and some of the interests I had was possibly becoming a Game Warden.”
However, that initial interest has dwindled, and Jerimiah is now exploring a new path for his future aspirations. Despite the uncertainty, he remains determined to discover his passion and pursue it.
As for his expectations at Jimmy Carter, Jerimiah Ortiz eagerly anticipates engaging in the school’s exciting range of activities.
“What I am most excited about experiencing at Jimmy Carter is all the activities the school does together such as, dances or good life.”
Ortiz’s specific goal at Carter is to graduate with his degree.
“One goal I hope to achieve is to be able to graduate with a degree and to ensure that I keep my grades up to get the credit to make sure that I am able to graduate with a good job in mind.”
The transition from regular high school courses to college courses differed slightly for Jeremiah.
“The college class that I am currently taking is Art Appreciation and I have found the transition to college life a bit challenging since it is a big step from the classes that I took last year and I meant both last semester and last school year in middle school.”
Now, moving away from academic pursuits and delving into Jerimiah’s interests, he has an array of hobbies and passions that may resonate with many. An exciting thing about Jeremiah is that he can make any type of survival cord.
“One of my hobbies is gaming, and I usually play Rocket League on the Nintendo Switch. Another hobby of mine is working with paracord, which is basically a type of survival cord. Most of the time, I make bracelets with the cobra knot or snake knot.”
To conclude this introduction, Jeremiah offers some advice for upcoming freshmen.
“A piece of advice I would give to other freshmen who just started their journey at Jimmy Carter is to set a good goal that you want in life. If you ever feel like giving up, you can just look back to your goal and let that motivate you to make that goal into an achievement.”

Posted inEducation, Community

Karen Gonzalez: Success Starts with You

Yankarlo M by Yankarlo M

Karen Gonzalez: Success Starts with You

Many Jimmy Carter Early College High School alumni go on to achieve their aspirations. Karen Gonzalez, a 2014 alumna of JCECHS, exemplifies the passion of Carter students alike through the journey into and beyond college.
Karen Gonzalez is the current bilingual Meteorologist for KRGV Channel 5 news and is among the first students to graduate from JCECHS. Coming from a modest background in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Jimmy Carter Early College was her pathway to success.
“At the time, the new, strange, and empty building presented an opportunity that I never imagined I could have,” Gonzalez said. “I was among the first 100 students when the school opened.”
Gonzalez first learned of JCECHS from Silvina Sepulveda, a former principal of Dr. Saenz Middle School. Mrs. Sepulveda had addressed early college as a way for students to accelerate during their high school years. For a school to hold the early college distinction in the La Joya Independent School District was wholly new and, for some, unexpected.
“My mother (…) immediately saw it as the chance to jumpstart the American Dream,” Gonzalez said. “A dream that prompted our family’s move from Nuevo Leon, Mexico.”
Having been introduced to newfound hope, Gonzalez was enrolled in Carter.
“Before learning about Jimmy, the thought of attending college had never crossed my mind,” Gonzalez said. “I grew up envisioning a future where I would become a housewife, mirroring the paths of my mother, aunts, and cousins.”
The cohort of students and Gonzalez experienced first-hand how success starts at Carter. Staff and administration diligently instilled a college mindset through severe discussions and engaging activities.
“A pivotal experience for me was the opportunity to visit various universities across the state, including UTPA and STC,” Gonzalez said. “It was a big contrast against the backdrop of my strict upbringing.”
With JCECHS, Gonzalez began learning more thanks to school-sponsored trips. She began exploring what seemed boundless horizons.
“During my four years at high school, we visited numerous institutions, including STC, UTRGV, UT, RU, ATM, UTSA, TXST, and UH,” Gonzalez said. “These experiences (…) ignited a fire within me for exploration, independence, and ambition.”
Gonzalez graduated Carter ready for what lay ahead. She was aware of the advantage Carter had given her.
“It was clear to me: to have the future I yearned for, college was essential,” Gonzalez said. “JCECHS (…) prepared me for the academic rigors and expectations of college professors.”
Gonzalez graduated from UTRGV in 2016 with a degree in communication studies. She began working for KRGV-TV as a camera operator. The station needed a Spanish-speaking meteorologist, offering to lend her the position, leading Gonzalez to return to school for a degree in meteorology.
“Seven years later (…) I am now a proud bilingual meteorologist for KRGV Channel 5 news,” Gonzalez said. “Best of all, I’ve managed to balance my career with being a mother and a wife.”
Gonzalez continues working for KRGV in her career as a meteorologist, acknowledging Carter was crucial to her success.
“To current JCEC students, savor every moment,” Gonzalez said. “I’m proud to say I’ve achieved the American Dream for both my parents and myself.”
At Carter, success starts with you.

Posted inEducation

Charting Success: Navigating Academia with Leonardo Guerrero

Alexandra C by Alexandra C

Leonardo Guerrero is a Jimmy Carter Early College High School sophomore and takes pride in being a part of the RedWolves.
“Being a student at Jimmy Carter is like being acknowledged for more than just your accolades as a student. Of course, being in an early college is different from being in a comprehensive school, with the rigorous curriculum that most of us Red Wolves have, being a student here is difficult,” said Guerrero, “But with the small environment here, I have befriended my mentors. Being a student here, I’m allowed to work with passionate teachers who are willing to go out of their way to help me in every academic or personal subject.”
Guerrero is focused on leveling up his academic game and has several goals.
“A goal I’ve set for myself this semester has been to study in advance for my ACT, specifically the math portion. The reason for this is how practice-based the ACT is,” said Guerrero. “You are meant to identify patterns instantaneously on the ACT, but with practice, the patterns on the test become muscle memory.
He also believes that practicing for the ACT is essential to achieving a standout score. For him, math is the best subject as it connects everything.
“Math. I love mathematics and have loved it ever since I was a kid. I’ve always been interested in astronomy, maybe because I was scared about the Earth’s gravity pulling everything to it, causing Armageddon,” said Guerrero, “This led me to search for ‘Why we haven’t blown up,’ ‘What is gravity,’ and ‘The math behind gravity,’ to which I still question. This love for astronomy and math has led me to be fascinated by what I have been taught most: math.”
Navigating the varied demands of academics, extracurricular activities, and personal life requires efficient time management and a delicate balance.
“To balance school, dual enrollment, journalism practice, clubs, other extracurriculars, and a personal life, I schedule and talk to people in advance,” said Guerrero, “Since I stay after school most days, I have to make sure to have any homework or activities done beforehand, considering I get home around 7 pm.”
Guerrero makes the most out of challenges and is driven by the need to solve things.
“An academic challenge I’ve encountered would have to be UIL Journalism. I have only been in Journalism for a little over a year. I’ve been doing well for the most part. Still, for a while, I never put much effort into practicing during my free time,” said Guerrero, “Recently, however, I have tried finding as much free time during school to read as I learned I retain information better at school. Because of this, I feel I will improve, not just in journalism, but in my general understanding.”
His future work and career are at the top of his mind as he explores high school and himself.
“I am considering working as an aerospace engineer in the future. The field of study this pertains to is, moreover, math. With my love for math, I have wanted to be held responsible for the architecture that will lead us out of this world using a familiar language practiced for hundreds of thousands of years,” said Guerrero.
Effective studying techniques and organizational strategies are crucial tools for navigating the maze of knowledge and maximizing learning outcomes in the complex road of academic pursuits.
“Some strategies I use to stay organized in my academics include making notating easy and accessible. I do this by syncing my assignments’ due dates with my calendar app, which constantly reminds me when I need to finish something,” said Guerrero.

Posted inEducation

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Educators: The Triumphs and Determination of Jimmy Carter’s TAFE team

Jalynn G by Jalynn G

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Educators: The Triumphs and Determination of Jimmy Carter’s TAFE team

TAFE is dedicated to promoting teaching as a career and supporting aspiring educators in Texas. TAFE provides opportunities for high school and college students interested in pursuing careers in education to connect with mentors, gain valuable experience through internships and workshops, participate in competitions, and engage in community service projects.
Jimmy Carter’s TAFE teams (TAFE Red and TAFE Gold) competed in area and regional competitions, bringing home numerous awards and qualifications due to their hard work and dedication.
Junior Audrey Brown has been in TAFE for three years and she has received significant praise for her awards.
“The event that I competed in was Exploring Non-core Subject Teaching Careers,” Brown says. “I was able to follow around Mr. Silva (the communications teacher on campus) and make a PowerPoint about what he does inside and outside of the classroom as a non-core teacher and present it at state. It was a lot of fun!”
Through this presentation, Brown qualified for the nationals.
Unlike in previous years, the team doesn’t plan on attending nationals this year due to the La Joya ISD not allowing out-of-state trips. But despite not going to nationals this year, the TAFE national qualifiers are still proud to have been bestowed the honor of being national qualifiers and know that the title can help them with future endeavors.
“When we recruited our kids, they were a little bummed out because of the news. I told them that the district just wouldn’t allow it despite advancing to nationals,” TAFE sponsor Brenda Treviño says. “However, they are still national qualifiers at the end of the day. They get the title, they get to put in their resumes, and they get to feel pride. And through all the competition they’ve experienced, I’m extremely proud of them and their accomplishments no matter what.”
Despite the setback, TAFE’s national qualifiers take pride in their accomplishments, knowing their achievements and talents will serve them well in future pursuits. With this in mind, the TAFE team continues to work hard to compete and bring back more titles, allowing them to always have something to look forward to in their own lives and something to be proud of in their current high school years.

Posted inEducation

Life Skills Era: A Brief Insight into Care Academy

Jalynn G by Jalynn G

Life Skills Era: A Brief Insight into Care Academy

The Care Academy provides special education services within a dedicated building on campus. It offers a unique program designed to prepare students for real-world challenges. Under the guidance of mentors and assistants, students engage in a curriculum that simulates real-life scenarios, thereby fostering vital skills for future success.
Tania Mercado-Cantu, an instructor at the academy for four years, emphasizes the importance of self-reliance to her students, reflecting on the program’s commitment to practical learning.
Activities such as floral arrangement, cooking, and gardening are part of the curriculum, aiming to teach essential life skills. The academy’s recent initiative, the “Care Café,” is a practical exercise, simulating a café environment where students learn firsthand about managing a business and its potential challenges. This initiative and ongoing efforts like mentorship in real-life job settings underscore the academy’s dedication to empowering its students for independence. Despite setbacks such as the interruption of programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is optimism about their continuation, further aiding student development.
Mercado-Cantu finds joy in witnessing the students’ growth, underlining the program’s transformative impact.
The Care Academy’s success in fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment highlights its significant contribution to the student’s development, making it a cherished part of the Jimmy Carter campus community.