Red Gold News

Navigating Through Ups and Downs: Carolina’s Academic Journey

Senior Carolina Amador is a National Honor Society dual enrollment student dedicated to succeeding as a Redwolf. When Amador heard about dual enrollment classes at JCECHS, she knew it was the right place for her. Amador wants to support her parents financially so she can take most of her basic core classes before she becomes an undergraduate.
As a freshman, Carolina took dual enrollment classes, which were full of ups and downs.
“At first, I wasn’t sure how to balance these courses with my regular classes as they required more work and commitment; however, through every class, I learned to work in a way that best suited me,” Amador said.
Balancing high school coursework and college-level classes has been difficult for Amador.
“I don’t have a secret to balancing it either; I simply remind myself that the work won’t get done on its own,” Amador said. “I think of the benefits of completing all of my work on time with an adequate amount of efficiency, whether it be my high school diploma or my associate’s degree.”
Amador was elected to serve as the NHS Historian, a position that she cherished.
“As the Historian, I am also in charge of collecting photos of everything we have done throughout the year and completing our pages for the yearbook,” Amador said.
Influencing Amador’s personal and academic growth, NHS has been a significant factor in her educational career.
“NHS has served as a reminder always to do my best,” Amador said.

Senior Thrives in National Honor Society Role

Daniela Flores, a Jimmy Carter High School senior, isn’t simply a student; she’s also a member of the National Honor Society (NHS).
Flores finds joy in reading and is passionate about animals. Over the last two years, she has actively participated in extracurricular activities such as track and soccer with Palmview High School. She is also set to graduate with an associate’s degree in criminal justice.

“The past two years, I have done extracurricular sports, with Palmview being track and soccer. I love animals and reading. Each year has come with its challenges, but I’m glad to be graduating with my associate in criminal justice,” Daniela said.

With various commitments, Daniela has discovered the secret to effectively managing academics, extracurricular activities, and personal commitments while balancing a busy schedule.

“The biggest secret to managing everything is not to procrastinate and plan. I use my planner to write out all my assignments, games, and events to see what needs to be done each week.”

However, in addition to these responsibilities, Flores is also a member of the NHS, which has positively impacted her academically.

“Being part of NHS has taught me the importance of giving back and appreciating all things. It has motivated me to maintain high grades in order to be a role model for the rest of the students,” Flores said.

Flores said that her high academic achievement is partly due to the influence of NHS and her desire to be a role model for others.

“I had Ms. Camarillo as my first-periodandacher my sophomore year, where she had all of the meetings with her officers, and seeing the passion within them and the change NHS was doing for our community motivated me to join. Being a member means being part of something bigger than yourself to impact our community more,” Flores said.

The four pillars of NHS—scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character—have enabled Flores to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in those areas both in school and within her community.

“For scholarship, I have maintained high grades and learned that learning is a lifelong journey that will never end. For leadership, I have been in various leadership positions with clubs in the school. For service, I have been able to serve my community by attending awareness walks and helping out by volunteering at my church. For character, always try your best to have a good attitude and represent the characteristics you want to see in the world,” Flores said.

While helping the community is important, Daniela also faces academic responsibilities at home.
“Planning. Dedicating a good 10-15 minutes to plan out what I will be doing with my time and knowing when I need to cut things out to get what I need to get done, done,” Flores said.
Numerous challenges are faced regularly as an early college student, but as a senior, even more challenges are thrown your way. This is how Daniela overcomes them.
“One of the challenges has been learning how to connect with colleges and figure out how to work through the process of applying to colleges and scholarships, but with practice and help from the staff here, I have been able to learn how to overcome them,” Flores said.
Just when you think the challenges are over, more emerge, including stressful times like midterm exams. However, Daniela relies on her faith, trusting that everything will work out.
“It does get difficult at times, but knowing the relief I will feel once they are over and I have completed them is the main thing that allows me to look into the future and believe it will all work out. As a Christian, I know that everything will work out as it should, and whenever I feel like skipping on studying, I remind myself that “you reap what you sow,” and if I want to earn a high score, I need to study,” Flores said.
As the school year draws to a close and Daniela prepares to graduate from Jimmy Carter, her visions for the future are clear. The impact of NHS continues to shape her journey ahead.
“I don’t know where I will be attending university, but I will be majoring in Criminal Justice and Marketing. My ultimate goal is to become an attorney, and my backup plan is to work in Customs. Community engagement is a factor I want to continue to pursue throughout my life, so wherever I end up, I am sure I will continue to serve my community,” Flores said.

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A Balancing Act: Managing school work and a passion for singing

Audrey Brown is an accomplished junior student at Jimmy and has many reputable achievements. Apart from many accomplishments—an NHS member, president of TAFE, UIL participant, and member of the Psi Alpha Psychology Club— she is also a choir student, a role which comes with many responsibilities.

Audrey hopes to increase her rank and do more as part of the choir. Last year, she struggled to keep up and noticed herself putting in less effort, letting her group down when she was needed. Now, she vows to be more focused on it as part of her academic duties and as a passionate interest.

“Things got hectic with testing and all kinds of stuff at Jimmy Carter,” she explains. “And when I was busy with that, I started to neglect my choir group. So this year, I want to make sure that I’m actively paying attention to that part of my life and my education, to ensure that I’m there when they need me and that I’m doing everything I’m supposed to. “

For Audrey, choir is an important part of life; she started in elementary school and has loved it since. She feels it’s fulfilling; blending in with a bigger group, learning skills she otherwise wouldn’t have, and having a general love for singing and music makes choir a rewarding experience. “I like music,” Audrey remarks. “Choir is just the natural progression of that.”

Being in the choir means Audrey has the opportunity to engage in skill sets that aren’t necessary at school:

Reading music sheets.

Collaborating with her section.

Being able to take criticism are key to performance.

Audrey has struggled with procrastination, which she credits as one of her most significant issues at work. She has missed choir often due to events at Jimmy and wants to coordinate more with her director and section this year to ensure she still participates. “One step that I definitely can take to make sure that I’m getting that balance between school here and the choir is making sure that I’m like checking in with my director all the time,” she states.

Being involved in choir, college, and various academically challenging extracurriculars, Audrey knows the ins and outs of stress very intimately. When asked about any advice she’d give to those struggling academically, she encourages others to ask for help and to be kind to themselves.

“I’ve spent a lot of time beating myself up over missing things or things falling through the cracks,” she begins. “But, let yourself live. Don’t spend time being a perfectionist because it will drive you up the wall; you won’t get anywhere. Be forgiving with yourself and others because we’re all having similar experiences here.”

Audrey’s experience with stress and managing her workload is not unique; almost everyone has struggled with schoolwork at some point, but Audrey’s advice reflects the importance of something a lot of people tend to neglect when it comes to school: self-care.

Senior Sets Sights on Psychology Career, Advocates Early College Route

As the graduation season approaches, Jimmy Carter High School’s senior, Daisy Escobedo, is not only preparing to receive her high school diploma but is also on the cusp of earning an associate degree, thanks to her enrollment in a dual credit program. Escobedo’s dedication to her studies and her clear vision for the future stand out as she shares her academic journey and career aspirations.

“Currently, I am a dual enrollment student working towards having an associate degree by the time I graduate high school. I have been working towards this goal since my sophomore year of high school,” Escobedo said.
She strongly encourages her fellow students to seize similar opportunities, emphasizing the importance of passing the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) assessments. “I highly encourage Jimmy students to pass their TSIs as soon as possible so they can experience college classes and a lot of learning not offered from the standard high school curriculum,” Escobedo said.

Looking beyond high school, Escobedo has her sights set on a career in psychology, though she acknowledges the need for direct experience in the field.
“After graduation, I hope I get the opportunity to gain minor psychology experience since my career choice is in that area,” Escobedo said.
She is exploring local volunteer opportunities to gain relevant experience, mainly through Hidalgo County services like Work Solutions for students.

Escobedo’s strategic approach to her education and career is supported by her mentors and counselors, including Ms. Luna, her CIS mentor.
“I have discussed these plans with my CIS mentor, Ms. Luna, about how I will stay local at UTRGV since they already provide great programs and classes that help many students,” Escobed said.
Escobedo also plans to work over the summer to support her college expenses.

Escobedo has learned valuable life skills from balancing academics and work through her job at a Mexican restaurant.
“I am working at a Mexican restaurant, which has taught me socializing skills and outside-world problems that require critical thinking and effective solutions,” Escobedo said.
Her priority remains to complete her academic work efficiently to ensure she can rest and recharge.

Escobedo envisions a future where she is both academically and financially accomplished.
“Hopefully, in five years, I will finish school and be debt-free from the university since I’ll be staying local. I hope that I have completed my bachelor’s degree in psychology and gained experience helping individuals solve their problems,” Escobedo said.
Her desire to give back to her community reflects her gratitude and commitment to those who have supported her educational journey.

Daisy Escobedo’s story is a testament to the resilience, foresight, and ambition of today’s youth. It inspires others to pursue their dreams with determination and a clear sense of purpose.

Striving to be a pediatrician

Cayden Salinas, a freshman at Jimmy Carter, is currently looking forward to one day studying in the medical field while still having fun experiences.

“I wanna study in the medical field and be a pediatrician,” said Salinas.

His mother inspired his passion for being in the medical field and becoming a pediatrician.

Salinas is also involved in extracurricular activities at his comprehensive school and Jimmy Carter. He is currently in the orchestra and the chess club.

“I’m in the chess club and orchestra. I got into the orchestra because I thought it would be fun, and it is,” Salinas said.

When he wants a break from work, Salinas looks forward to watching One Piece after finishing his work. He sometimes believes he is meant to be a food critic because he loves food.

Salinas enjoys doing it for the experience and flavor. Doing all this helps him relieve his stress and take a break from his work.

His advance is never to stop being bothered by losing, for it’s like you have lost twice.

Salinas believes there is always room for improvement and something to learn, so you should never settle.

Explore Our Latest Literary Additions: Exciting New Books Now Available

In January, the campus was awarded $2,000 for the purchase of books for the library, giving students the chance to be able to recommend some to be added. As of March, the library now has new books ranging from romance to biographies and more.

Jayline Guerra: Studying for success

Jayline Guerra, a freshman at Jimmy Carter Early College High School, strives to improve her education while managing her workload.
Guerra is the oldest sibling in her family. She is the first one to attend college early and is the expectation of success for her younger brothers.
“I was confused about some of the things, such as the dual enrollment assignments, but I was able to ask for help from my teachers and family,” Guerra said.
Her transition from her middle school activities—softball, basketball, and track—to having to focus on high school work and UIL activities caused her to consider staying after school.
“I played volleyball during my first semester,” Guerra said.
With two dual enrollment classes in her second semester, she decided to take a break to focus on her grades.
“I wanted to use my time after school to focus on my grades first, then sports or UIL.”
Though Guerra is not officially in any student council position, she still offers help with preparing events such as the Mercados.
Although Guerra does not have a direct career path, she is aware of what she wants to study, which is psychology.
“I always found it interesting how people think and knowing why,” Guerra said. “I did consider teaching, but I was advised by my tia, who worked at a different school, to pursue a higher-paying career.”

Navigating the Last Year: Ariana Espinoza’s Reflection on Academics, Challenges, and Future Aspirations

As the academic year draws to a close at Jimmy Carter Early College High School, senior Ariana Espinoza shares her mixed emotions of excitement, nostalgia, and anticipation for what lies ahead. Espinoza, who has maintained high grades throughout her final year, emphasizes the importance of cherishing the remaining time with classmates while preparing for future endeavors. It’s a year characterized by the delicate balance between bidding farewell to familiar halls and eagerly anticipating the adventures.

“Regardless of being a very busy year, it has been fun and bittersweet. We are all getting ready to move on to new chapters in our lives, but also trying to create new memories and enjoy the time that we have left together,” Espinoza said. “It is a year of reflection as well; we look back at all of the academic challenges we’ve had, accomplishments we’ve made, and growth we’ve shown, whether personal or academic. Time has flown by very fast, but I’m glad I have made the most of it.”

Espinoza’s academic rigor is evident in her commitment to her studies, particularly in an anatomy and physiology class that she finds challenging and fascinating.
“I have planned to maintain good grades in all my classes, and I have achieved them by trying my best and staying on top of my work by turning it in on time,” It’soza said.

Beyond academics, Espinoza has successfully balanced extracurricular activities” and part-time work, crediting her organizational skills for her ability to manage her time efficiently.
“As someone who has always struggled with managing their time, I am proud of how well I have managed working, extracurricular activities, and academics this year,” Espinoza said. “Sometimes we just need to discipline ourselves to get things done. I write down all my tasks on a sticky note to stay organized. If I know I have work or events, I prioritize completing those tasks beforehand. It makes things easier for me to balance everything and manage my time efficiently.”

Looking “to the future, Espinoza shares advice for underclassmen, stressing the” importance of time management, self-care, and enjoying the high school experience.
“Manage your time wisely and prepare yourself for next year as you submit college and scholarship applications,” Espinoza said, “but don’t forget to enjoy and cherish this journey. Always remember to prioritize yourself and your well-being.”

With graduation on the horizon, Espinoza and her classmates stand at the threshold of a new beginning, ready to face the challenging opportunities that await.
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