Head in the game: Promise Scholar Julian Carrillo
Changing schools can be hard. Ask Julian Carrillo.
For his freshman year of high school, Carrillo switched from La Porte Independent School District to First Baptist Christian Academy. Not only did the academic rigor increase, but he felt alone that entire year since his new classmates had practically grown up together.
“I was able to put myself out there and make new friends,” he said. “They became like a second family.”
This fall, Carrillo enrolled at San Jacinto College. But he’s already starting with a can-do attitude about studying and making connections around campus.
“[I like to walk] into every day open-minded … willing to meet new people,” he said. “Not everyone will come up to you, but you can go up to others.”
After finishing his prerequisite courses, Carrillo will apply for the associate degree nursing program. He also plans to pursue a second associate degree in business so he can become a health care administrator someday.
Nursing runs in the family. His mom, a San Jac alumna, serves as the vice president and chief nursing officer for a hospital system.
As the middle child in a family of six kids, Carrillo has always enjoyed serving others — like helping his grandma, who has memory issues, sort her medications for the day. He’s not sure what kind of nurse he’ll become, though emergency care could be the right fit since he remains calm under pressure.
While Carrillo is still unsure about his exact career plans, one thing he was sure about was pursuing the Promise @ San Jac Scholarship. Open to all high school seniors in San Jac’s taxing district, the scholarship covers full-time tuition and books 100%.
Once determined to attend an out-of-town university, Carrillo pivoted after learning about a debt-free degree at San Jac.
“It seemed smarter to stay home and be with my family,” he said. “Not having any debt after I graduate … that’s always nice to think about in the back of your head, and it’s nice for my family."
Carrillo enjoys down time — from shooting hoops or hiking in the Texas Hill Country to inventing new fashion statements with friends. But he also knows how to keep his head in the game.
“Hearing how my mom started really inspired me to work harder and take school seriously,” he said. “It showed me that if you work hard, given the right opportunities, you can take off with a career like that.”
Apply for Promise @ San Jac Scholarship
Interested in a debt-free degree? If you’re a high school senior living in San Jac’s taxing district, apply for the Promise @ San Jac Scholarship! Here are the deadlines:
- 2/28: Pledge and apply to San Jac
- 4/30: Complete the FAFSA or TASFA
- 6/30: Enroll and register for full-time classes
Learn more at sanjac.edu/promise.
