Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
For spring 2025 South Texas College graduate Alina Serrano, earning an associate degree before receiving her high school diploma is a major accomplishment, but what makes it even more meaningful is that her journey with the college began over a decade ago, at only 2 years old, at the STC Mid-Valley Child Development Center.
Serrano recently graduated from Mercedes Early College Academy with an Associate of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies through STC’s Dual Credit Programs.
“It feels like such a full circle moment,” Serrano said. “It amazes me that I started my educational journey at STC, learning how to interact and explore the world, and now I finished such a big chapter at the same college.”
Serrano attended the Child Development Center until she was 5 years old and credits the program with helping her come out of her shell. It was in those early days that she began building the social and academic skills that would carry her through her college career.
“The center really helped me learn how to connect with other kids,” Serrano said. “It made starting school so much easier because I was already comfortable in a classroom setting and excited to learn.”
Her early exposure to STC also planted a seed that would grow into ambition. Serrano says attending the center gave her a glimpse into the possibilities of higher education and made STC feel like home.
“Being on campus so young made me aware of what STC had to offer,” she said. “I always knew I wanted to attend as soon as I could, which is why I chose to do the dual credit program in high school.”
Balancing high school coursework, extracurricular activities and college classes wasn’t always easy. Serrano admits there were many late nights and stressful weeks, but the challenge helped her grow.
“It was hard juggling everything like studying for college-level exams, while staying on top of high school assignments and still being involved in activities,” she shared. “But it taught me time management and resilience.”
Serrano now has her sights set on law school. She plans to attend the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and then continue on to St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio.
She says STC’s Interdisciplinary Studies program gave her a solid foundation for her future legal studies.
“I want to become an attorney and the program helped me build strong communication and critical thinking skills,” she said.
As she looks ahead, Serrano remains deeply grateful to the STC Child Development Center and its staff for giving her the start that shaped her success.
“I truly recommend the center to any parent thinking about early education,” she said. “It helped me so much, and not just academically, but personally. It benefited my parents too, knowing I was in a nurturing environment that prepared me for the future.”
For Serrano, STC is more than just a college — it’s where her journey began. From toddler to trailblazer, she represents the full potential of early learning and the transformative power of education.
“I’m so appreciative of the center and everyone who helped me along the way,” she said. “They helped turn me into the person I am today.”
For more information about the STC Child Development Center and its programs, visit: https://www.southtexascollege.edu/child-development-center/.
Information source: STC
