Posted inEducation

Empowering Excellence: Carlos Rodriguez’s Journey at Jimmy Carter Early College High School

Abigail C by Abigail C

Empowering Excellence: Carlos Rodriguez’s Journey at Jimmy Carter Early College High School

At Jimmy Carter Early College High School, academic excellence isn’t just a goal; it’s a way of life. For students like Carlos Rodriguez, enrolling in this institution was motivated by the desire for top-notch educational opportunities. “Jimmy Carter had the best options academically,” Rodriguez said.
Since joining Jimmy Carter, Rodriguez has found himself immersed in a vibrant academic environment, surrounded by supportive educators who excel in their fields and make learning enjoyable.
“Jimmy Carter is a great school with a great environment,” Rodriguez said. “All my teachers are great educators and fun to be around.”
With high hopes for personal and academic growth, Rodriguez expects Jimmy Carter to be a platform for his success.
“Hopefully, this school can help me excel, not only academically but personally,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez acknowledges his strengths and challenges, acknowledging his proficiency in reading and writing while recognizing the hurdles presented by subjects like Geography and Algebra, which demand extensive memorization.
Despite not currently participating in extracurricular activities, Rodriguez remains dedicated to his studies and focuses on effectively balancing his workload.
“I am not currently taking on any extracurricular activities,” Rodriguez said, highlighting his commitment to academic pursuits.
In addition to his regular coursework, Rodriguez is currently enrolled in college-level courses, including “Intro to Speech” and “Intro to Computing.”
These advanced classes not only enrich his learning experience but also prepare him for his long-term educational and career aspirations.
“Eventually, I see myself starting a career involving music,” Rodriguez reveals, expressing his ambitions for the future.
As he navigates his journey through Jimmy Carter Early College High School, Rodriguez hopes to gain academic knowledge and valuable life skills. “I hope to gain greater knowledge from this high school,” he says, “and hopefully, this school can somehow teach me how to become a better person.”
Carlos Rodriguez’s journey at Jimmy Carter Early College High School showcases the school’s dedication to academic success and personal development. With supportive teachers, challenging classes, and pathways for growth, Jimmy Carter equips students like Rodriguez with the resources to excel in their studies and beyond. As Rodriguez progresses in his education, he’s well-positioned to achieve his aspirations and maximize his experience at Jimmy Carter Early College High School.

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.