Overcoming two-hour daily commute to pursue degree

For South Texas College student Kayla Garcia, pursuing her dream of becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) means driving over two hours each day, an investment in time, energy and determination that reflects her commitment to helping others.

“I see it as if I’m taking on an extra class, and I’m making time management a priority,” Garcia said. “Returning to school wasn’t just an investment of time and money; it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. Every day I’m reminded that it’s worth it. I’m truly enjoying the program, and I’m more confident than ever that I made the right decision.”

Garcia, 27, was born and raised in Brownsville and knew from a young age that she wanted to work in the medical field. She would help take care of her grandfather who lost his eyesight when Garcia was just three years old.

After graduating from Simon Rivera Early College High School, Garcia was excited to receive a scholarship to Texas A&M in College Station, but she struggled with the idea of leaving home.

“I was the first in my family to leave, and it wasn’t an easy decision. I was born a twin, so I’m really close to my sister and the rest of my family, but it was such a huge opportunity, I knew I had to take it.”

In 2019, Garcia earned a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health with a focus on School Health, seeing teaching as a better opportunity to return home and pursue a career in education. However, she would eventually realize it wasn’t her true calling.

“Nobody told me that the pool of jobs would be so limited, especially since there are only few health science teaching positions in K-12, so I took any job I could get as a substitute to stay close to home,” she said. “It was while working in the life skills unit at a high school that I saw therapists working with the students, and it reminded me of my initial aspiration to actually be in the field.”

Through a former university classmate who had also transitioned from a bachelor’s degree to pursue a career as a Physical Therapist Assistant at STC, Garcia learned about local options that would allow her to enter the field without wasting any more time.

“I chose to apply to the OTA program instead because I believe it’s a better fit for me. I still enjoy teaching, because it’s still rooted in helping others, but I wanted to be more hands-on in the field,” she said. “Through teaching, I developed a sense of creativity that I can now express as an OTA. I can still be innovative when helping create interventions, and learn to adapt to patients’ interests and needs in different ways.”

Garcia added that the best part of her experience so far has been the sense of community and the strong relationships she has built at STC.

“There’s a personal connection and real mentorship here with both our instructors and our cohort. At a larger university, you often don’t even know who’s sitting next to you,” she explained. “In a much shorter time, I’ve built stronger, more meaningful friendships than I ever did at my previous school. That sense of community extends across all programs and staff. Everyone at STC is genuinely invested in your success. They’re not just here to teach, they’re here to support you every step of the way.”

Set to graduate next spring, she’s excited for the certification process that will follow, allowing her to gain hands-on experience in the field, explore potential specialties and perhaps one day continue her education to become a licensed Occupational Therapist.

“One of my favorite parts of Occupational Therapy is that I get to help people of all ages. Now that I’ve started my clinical rotations, I’ve had the chance to apply everything I’ve learned in the classroom to my patients,” she said. “Thanks to my dedicated and passionate instructors, I feel prepared to take on my future role and see myself becoming an Occupational Therapist one day.”

For more information on STC’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/occupational-therapy/ or call 956-872-3216.