Texas Border Business
By Selene Rodriguez
As the oldest recruit in her cohort, South Texas College Fire Academy graduate Jacinda Rincon knew she had no more time to waste.
At 34 years old, just under the fire academy, fire service age limit of 35, she’s now graduating with her Basic Firefighter Certification from STC, bringing her one step closer to kickstart a career and fulfilling her dream of a stable future for herself and her two young daughters.
“I never had what you’d call a professional career, but after becoming a mom, I knew I had to do something, not just for myself, but for my kids,” she said. “My daughters are 3 and 2 years old, and I take pride in knowing they’re going to grow up seeing me do this and everything I’ve accomplished. I want them to understand what it means to work hard for something.”
Rincon had always dreamed of playing a meaningful role in her hometown of Roma.
After graduating from Roma High School in 2009, she earned an associate degree in Criminal Justice from STC in 2012. But, disinterested in the field, she then began exploring other options and worked various retail jobs, including long nights as an overnight stocker, to make ends meet.
It wasn’t until last year, when she began volunteering with the Roma Fire Department, that she discovered a new calling and a renewed sense of purpose.
“Every time I’ve had the chance to help someone, it’s one of the best feelings,” she said. “Knowing you’re there when someone’s in need and you’re able to help gives you such a warm feeling. I feel really proud of what I’m doing and excited for what’s to come.”
After volunteering for a few months, Rincon made the decision to join STC’s Fire Academy and for the past 16 weeks, she has traveled more than an hour each day to train at STC’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence in Pharr.
Among students much younger than her, Rincon has faced numerous challenges and undergone rigorous training that pushed her to her mental and physical limits, but all in pursuit of a greater purpose.
“I’m literally always the last one to finish our drills because everyone in the academy is so much younger than me, they do everything so quickly, like it’s nothing,” she said. “Most of them are 18 or in their early 20s, so it’s hard to keep up sometimes. I do get bummed out, but I push through.”
Despite the age gap, Rincon found her greatest motivation in the younger cadets around her, whose constant encouragement helped her push through.
She also credits her success to the guidance and wisdom of her instructors, together, they gave her the strength to keep going when she felt like giving up.
“More than half the time during this program, I thought about quitting, but my fellow cadets wouldn’t let me. They kept telling me, ‘You can do this,’ their support meant a lot to me,” she shared. “And our instructors, they’ve been just as incredible. They’re wise, informative and very detailed. We’ve even had a few volunteer instructors come in from places like Pharr and Edinburg, and every single one of them has been great at what they do. I truly look up to them.”
With a job secured at the Roma Fire Department once she passes her certification exam with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) in the coming weeks, Rincon is eager to give back, protecting the community she grew up in and the one her daughters will grow up in, too.
“What’s really gotten me here is the support of my mom. Without her help with my daughters, I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this. She’s been by my side every step of the way, encouraging me to go for it so I could get on my feet and build a better future,” she said. “I’m also incredibly thankful to STC and the Roma Fire Department for the opportunities I’ve been given. I’m excited to now be part of something that truly makes a difference.”
To support more aspiring firefighters from Starr County, such as Rincon, STC recently announced the launch of a new fire academy at its Starr County Campus in Rio Grande City, set to begin this fall. For more information, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/fire-science/ or call 956-872-4208.
Information Source: STC
