(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some Texas State Technical College Surgical Technology students recently took part in an important effort for the Rio Grande Valley by volunteering their time and skills during a COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Ten students were divided into two separate shifts and tasked with data entry during the drive-thru clinic.
Surgical Technology instructor Anna San Pedro said that it was a humbling experience.
“To have the opportunity to serve the community during this unprecedented time provided a greater perspective of who we are as health professionals and what it means to be part of something bigger than ourselves,” she said.
She added that the learning experience of assisting during the distribution was invaluable.
“I am confident that the experience has provided our students with a great platform to start their careers with a caring and selfless heart,” she said. “It will also give them a stronger perception of what it means to be a health care provider.”
TSTC Provost Cledia Hernandez said that preparing students to enter the workforce with confidence is one of the primary missions at TSTC.
“TSTC prides itself on preparing our students to enter the workforce ready to work,” she said. “One of the ways we do that is by providing them with the best hands-on experience possible.”
She said that real-world learning is where students can blend their passion with their education.
“This is where training and their calling merges,” she said. “Students are able to experience that they are here for a bigger purpose.”
Hernandez said that this was an event that TSTC students, and history books, will not soon forget.
“Serving during a pandemic is a rare opportunity, but the lessons learned will be applicable for a lifetime,” she said. “Future generations will learn about this unprecedented time in history books, and our students will be able to say that they were on the frontlines, serving their community.”
To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.
