Texas Border Business
By Selene Rodriguez
After years of hard labor and long stretches away from home, South Texas College graduate Jorge Vela is now accomplishing a dream his father once began, but couldn’t continue – becoming a firefighter and building a future close to his children.
Graduating alongside nine other cadets in STC’s first-ever Fire Academy in Starr County, Vela celebrates not only the achievement of a college education, which he once thought was impossible, but also the start of his career with a job already secured.
“My father attended an academy when he was younger, but didn’t get state certified, which meant he had to go away for work. I grew up not seeing him for long periods of time,” he said. “I wanted to finish what he started and close that chapter for both of us and give my own children a future where I can be home for them.”
Vela was raised in La Grulla and became a father at 19, a responsibility that pushed him to grow up quickly and repeat his own history by having to work away from home.
“I realized I wanted to change my life for the better and provide stability for my family,” he said. “I’ve been laborer my whole life, but eventually I knew I wanted more.”
Right out of high school, Vela went straight into labor jobs before leaving out of town for pipeline work. He eventually came back home and worked at H-E-B for two years, until earlier this year when he finally decided it was his time to change his life.
“I have a cousin in the fire service and he would constantly encourage me to join, to try it,” he said. “The only problem was that I would have to go all the way to Pharr to train at STC, but I was set. My dad was really supportive. We were already planning on me using his car to drive to school every day.”
He then found out STC was gearing up to launch their first-ever Fire Academy cohort in Starr County this fall semester, created precisely to eliminate the commute for aspiring firefighters in the region.
Launched in 2011, the 16-week training program provides instruction designed to build both physical and psychological strength, including agility tests, lectures, quizzes, exams and hands-on training with firefighting gear, equipment and tools.
“It was the absolute perfect timing and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity. Thanks to STC expanding their program, I was able to train close to my family and at an affordable rate,” he said. “This is the only academy in the county, before this you would have to travel to Pharr or Laredo. I’m really grateful for the chance.”
Recently engaged to his longtime girlfriend and now raising his 5-year-old son and his 8-year-old stepdaughter, Vela envisions a different future for himself and his family.
Since early November, he begun working with the Rio Grande City Fire Department as a firefighter cadet.
“As soon as I pass my state certification, I’m in,” he explained. “It was very unexpected for me. All of us in the cohort applied and I was fortunate to be selected. They’ll open more positions next year and I’m sure some of my classmates will get hired too. This is just another great opportunity we received thanks to the college.”
He added the community’s support has been palpable and something that motivated him and his classmates through even the toughest training days.
“We have the whole community rooting for us. Some days we run on the side of the highway and we have cars honking at us, like keep going, don’t give up,” he said. “Within our class we’ve become a family. Everybody keeps up with each other, pushing each other to keep going. But also, I wouldn’t be here without my parents, my fiancée, my children. They are very excited because they already see me as a hero.”
His next goal is to earn an associate degree in Fire Science from STC and in the future, pursue STC’s Police Academy, which also recently expanded to Starr County. He hopes to one day d become a fire marshal.
“I would also be interested in becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT). I mean, there are just so many possibilities now,” he said. “STC has opened so many opportunities, some that I never thought I was going to see in my life. I’m very excited for my new chapter.”
For more information on the STC Fire Academy and other trainings and programs offered, visit southtexascollege.edu/rcpse/ or call 956-872-4208.
