Texas Border Business
By Selene Rodriguez
McALLEN, Texas – At just 20 years old, South Texas College alumna Jacqueline Castillo has already earned a college certificate, an associate degree and multiple industry certifications, milestones in a journey toward a career in Information Technology (IT) that began through the college’s Dual Credit Programs.
It all started with a Business Information Management (BIM) course at Edinburg North High School, a freshman-year class, Castillo said she could not have known would change the course of her education and ultimately shape the future she is building today.
“I didn’t even know what information technology was or that it was something I could pursue,” Castillo said. “But once I discovered it, I started liking it and just kept going. That class opened the door to something completely new and showed me a path I could see myself following, not just in high school but for the rest of my life.”
Raised in Edinburg, Castillo recalls her curiosity about computers beginning as early as 9 or 10 years old, when she would watch one of her mother’s colleagues, an IT technician for the school district, work with computers and programs.
“I didn’t understand what he was doing at the time, but I remember being fascinated by it,” Castillo said. “I was young, but I was already curious about computers, programs and how everything worked.”
Castillo graduated from Edinburg North High School in 2024 with a college credential already under her belt, earning a Computer Applications Specialist certificate through STC’s Dual Credit Programs during her junior year.
Now, two years later, Castillo has graduated from STC with an associate degree in information technology, multiple industry certifications and approximately 70 college credit hours as she prepares to continue her education.
“The faculty have helped me a lot, not only with what I needed to learn in class, but also with figuring out where I wanted to go,” Castillo said. “They helped me discover the different paths I could take in IT and gave me the guidance I needed to keep moving forward. Having that guidance has made a big difference for me.”
Beyond her degree, Castillo has strengthened her résumé with industry-recognized credentials that can give her an advantage as she prepares to enter the workforce.
Through her coursework, she has also earned five certifications, including three Cisco certifications in cybersecurity, IT support and IT networking, as well as credentials in Information Technology Network Systems and Information Technology Support Systems.
“Those certifications can cost $100 to $150 each, so having the opportunity to earn them through my classes helped me a lot,” Castillo said. “I’m graduating with more than a degree. I have certifications that represent the skills I’ve developed and experience I can carry with me as I begin my career.”
Castillo’s experience at STC has also helped her explore the different areas of IT, expanding an initial interest in software into a growing interest in networking.
“What I like about IT is that there are so many different things you can do,” Castillo said. “You can work with hardware, software, programming or networking. I started out more interested in software, but now I’m really enjoying networking. I like that I don’t have to limit myself to just one area.”
As Castillo begins to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Computer and Information Technologies (CIT) at STC this fall, she is also looking toward a career in IT.
Her recent capstone experience with STC’s IT staff allowed Castillo to put those interests into practice by troubleshooting computers, installing operating systems and software, replacing hardware and assembling network cables, while reinforcing her desire to one day work for the college.
“STC has always been one of the places where I’ve wanted to work,” Castillo said. “After completing my capstone and seeing what the IT department does firsthand, I could really picture myself here. I started my college journey at STC, and I would love the opportunity to begin my career here, too.”
For more information on STC’s dual credit opportunities, visit https://www.southtexascollege.edu/dual/.
Information source: STC
