Texas Border Business
By Selene Rodriguez
After decades of dedication as a wife, mother of six, caregiver and foster mother to over 15 children, South Texas College alumna Pauline Peralez has honored a 25-year-old promise to her late father – to earn a college degree.
“It was my father’s dream to see his children graduate from college and I was on my way, but life had other plans,” she shared. “When the people I loved needed me most, I knew I had to be there for them, so I decided to drop out and find another path. Today, as I finally walk across that graduation stage, I can feel my father’s pride, I know he’s smiling down from heaven, watching me fulfill the dream he had for me.”
Despite a successful career as a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer since 2013, the 45-year-old returned to school a couple of years ago, taking it one class at a time, to pursue an associate degree in Law Enforcement at STC.
Currently stationed in Hawaii, she proudly traveled from her home to attend her graduation ceremony in December, a heartfelt tribute to her father’s legacy.
However, a career in public safety was not her first choice. Peralez dreamed of becoming a nurse when she was a young student at Progreso High School in 1998.
“I was a state runner and qualified for regionals all four years, which earned me a scholarship from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). I was ready to take on the world,” she said. “I really wanted to go into nursing. I’ve always wanted to help people. At 17, I even earned my Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license to get ahead and start making a real difference.”
Just as she was preparing to leave for college, her father fell ill. Peralez couldn’t bring herself to leave home and chose to stay by his side.
“I was engaged to my high school sweetheart, and we decided to rush the wedding. Every girl dreams of her father walking her down the aisle, and I’m so grateful I got to live that dream,” she shared. “I got married at 19, started a family early, but my dream of becoming a nurse never faded. So, three years later, I found myself at STC.”
However, her mother-in-law suffered a devastating accident that required 24-hour care. And, again, without hesitation, Peralez dropped out of school to care for her.
“I always found a way and refused to let life hold me back,” she added. “Eventually, I had the opportunity to become a coach for the Hidalgo Independent School District, where I continued to fuel my passion for helping others.”
Her role as a mentor to youth would set her on a path toward fostering, offering her kindness and support to over 15 children who needed either guardianship or guidance.
With three children of her own, Peralez opened her home for the first time when two of her students were found homeless, offering them a safe place in their time of need.
“Most of the children I took care of were friends of my own kids, often visiting and calling me ‘mom.’ Many came from tough situations, living in bad conditions, without homes or with parents needing time to figure things out,” she said. “I’m so proud of each of them. They’ve all gone on to build successful careers. One even graduated as a doctor the week before I graduated from STC. It’s rewarding to think that if I hadn’t taken them in, they might not be where they are today.”
After five years as a coach and several years working for the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DAS), Peralez experienced a shift in her career when one day, a friend of her children mentioned that her father was a CBP officer.
“It sounded so interesting, but then he told me, ‘It’s hard, you might not make it,’ and that alone made me sign up. I’m someone who always takes on a challenge,” she said. “That’s what brought me to Hawaii and to STC. Now that my older children are adults and my job reimburses my education, it was my time. And what better place to finally get my degree than STC, where everything started, where home is.”
Today, a mother of six, Peralez has been stationed in Hawaii since 2021, offering new opportunities to her youngest three children while accomplishing a long-awaited goal.
“We’re so proud of her,” shared her husband, Jerry Peralez. “We married young and faced many tough times in our lives, but through every bump in the road, she’d always tell me, ‘We got this.’ Through raising our children and foster kids, she’s always been selfless and generous. All of this, while being a full-time federal agent, wife and loving mom. It was finally her time – time for her to focus on herself and to chase her dreams.”
With her sights now set on earning a bachelor’s degree, Peralez is deeply committed to continuing her education, not only for herself, but for her large, close-knit family.
She has become a living example of perseverance, showing her children and loved ones that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.
“I’m beyond grateful that STC offers online options. Without them, I never would have been able to reach my goal,” she said. “Even with years of experience in the field, many of the classes I took directly applied to my work, and I’ve been able to use that knowledge every day. Having this degree is not just an achievement for me and my family, but it’s a powerful step forward.”
For more information on STC’s Law Enforcement or other Public Safety programs and training opportunities, visit southtexascollege.edu/rcpse/ or call 956-872-4200.
