Dual-degree nursing student also an Academic Achiever

Center for Mexican American Studies program provides student scholarships and academic support

Academic Achievers Program (AAP) is a collaborative effort between the Center for Mexican American Studies and Stephen F. Austin High School that offers qualified participants four-year scholarships and other services designed to help underrepresented students succeed in college.

Recently, the program was recognized by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence as a “Bright Spot” in Hispanic Education.

Mayela Rodriguez earned one of the AAP scholarships and entered CLASS’s dual degree nursing program in 2013. The dual-degree program allows UH students to earn credit hours toward both a bachelor’s degree from UH and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing. Program participants normally complete both degrees within five years.

For her UH degree, Rodriguez declared Liberal Studies her major and selected Spanish and psychology as her areas of interest.

“I always knew I wanted to be a nurse not only because it is one of the most satisfying careers, but also because my mom is a nurse,” Rodriguez says. “She works at a hospital in Mexico and I can tell she loves her profession because she’s been working as a nurse for 25 years.”

At age 15, Rodriguez left her mother and Monclova Coahuila, a small city in northern Mexico, to move to Houston and enrolled at Stephen F. Austin High School to get a better education than the one she was receiving in her hometown.

“Because of my lack of English I had to repeat my freshman and sophomore years even though I had enough credits to be a junior,” she said. “I graduated from high school with honors in 2013, proving a lot of people wrong, people who thought I was just another Mexican with no aspiration and courage, so I did the best I could and achieved my goals.”

Rodriguez plans to complete her CLASS coursework this spring. Once she finishes nursing school, she intends to go on to graduate school. As she works toward that objective, Rodriguez and her sister, who moved to Houston after she did, are also working hard to make ends meet at home.

“I work part time as a waitress,” she says. “It’s hard, but honestly I couldn’t feel better. It’s difficult getting the money for rent, insurance, books and food - but hey, life is not easy and I always look at the bright side.”

Rodriguez also has the unwavering support from the Center for Mexican American Studies and faculty and staff members from the Academic Achievers Program.

“Mayela is an amazing individual, who has been able to achieve success against many obstacles,” says Rebeca Treviño, program manager of the Academic Achievers Program. “I truly admire Mayela, she is an example to our program students, she works long hours and at the same time she maintains an excellent academic standing, something not many students can do.”

“Mrs. Treviño has always been there for me, since the beginning. I know I can count on her not only for school advice, but also for any personal issue. She is like a second mother; when I’m tired, she encourages me to keep going,” says Rodriguez. “She reminds me that even though it is hard being here without my family, in the end it will all be worth it.”

- By Monica Byars