Texas Border Business
By Selene Rodriguez
When South Texas College student Juan Alvarado decided to explore a career locally, he never imagined that within two years he would emerge as a trilingual professional with both a clear career path and a true sense of purpose.
After recently completing his associate degree in Sign Language Interpreting, Alvarado, 22, now aspires to become a Deaf education teacher while continuing to foster understanding and respect for Deaf culture.
“Coming from Spanish and English, I thought learning another language would be straightforward, but American Sign Language (ASL) is more than just moving your hands, it’s about understanding the culture, the way Deaf people grow up with their own traditions and identity,” he explained. “Learning sign language gave me purpose. I want to be a bridge that connects the Deaf and hearing communities.”
A Pharr native, Alvarado is a proud 2021 graduate of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) Early College High School.
He initially aspired to become a television cameraman, but later shifted his plans to follow in his sister’s footsteps and study Psychology in Kingsville. When staying closer to home became the better option, he explored programs at STC and that search led him to discover Sign Language Interpreting.
“It caught my eye because it seemed fascinating,” Alvarado shared. “Eventually, a family member married a Deaf person who also became part of my family, and that showed me even more the importance of learning this language. There are more than 10,000 Deaf people in the Rio Grande Valley, but fewer than 40 certified interpreters to serve them. Learning that opened my eyes to the need for connection and awareness.”
Since his first semester, Alvarado has been actively involved both on campus and in the community, serving as president of the Hand in Hand Interpreters Club, teaching free ASL classes at the Weslaco Public Library and even spending a weekend interning at the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin.
“It was an eye-opening experience,” he said. “Being at the most well-known Deaf school in Texas made me realize even more how much I want to be part of this field. It inspired me to set a goal of one day becoming a Deaf education teacher,” he said.
Alvarado also interned for the college’s Student Accessibility Services, helping interpret classes in subjects ranging from Government to Math.
“Interpreting in real college classrooms gave me a feel for how the professional field really works,” he said. “Through all these experiences, even though I was still a student, I was already gaining professional-level experience. STC’s program sets you up for success in that way.”
Alvarado is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership at STC, which he expects to complete within a year before seeking certification as a Deaf education teacher.
“When I thought about Psychology, it was a long-term plan. I imagined being set in my career by the time I turned 30,” he said. “But here I am at 22, already on a path, and I’ll have reached my goal before 25. It was STC, this program and the community here that made that possible.”
He has also become an advocate for the importance of human interpreters in a world where some assume technology can take their place and takes pride in the unique role he fills as a trilingual communicator in English, Spanish and ASL.
“A lot of people say we don’t need interpreters because AI or a computer can translate,” he said. “But ASL is its own language with its own structure, and no machine can replace the connection of having someone who truly understands you.”
For Alvarado, the journey has become about more than a degree, it’s about the kind of impact he hopes to leave behind. He envisions a future where his work not only builds connections, but also earns him a place as a trusted ally within the community.
“It’s more about supporting the deaf than helping the deaf, anything is possible for them,” he said. “One of my goals in life and my career is to be well known in the Deaf community across Texas, not for fame, but so people know I’m someone they can count on, a supporter who stands with them.”
For more information on STC’s Sign Language Interpreting program, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/asl/ or call 956-872-2015.
