Breaking Barriers

Maria Arreola was facing a daunting road ahead. The mother of two was struggling with financial challenges, including her husband losing his job and ongoing car repairs, all while she was trying to earn her bilingual education degree at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

It was a stressful situation, especially during uncertain economic times. But Arreola discovered a unique University resource that has helped alleviate her financial concerns and allowed her to focus on her education.

While at a campus fair, Arreola enrolled in Ready to Work, a city of San Antonio workforce program. Through a partnership with the city, the University’s Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement oversees the program on campus, helping pave the way for students to finish their education. 

Ready to Work is an over $200 million investment in scholarship and support services for eligible participants and is funded by a 1/8-cent sales tax approved by San Antonio voters in 2020. Program participants must complete education and training for high-demand careers in the local workforce and take assessments related to workforce readiness, academics and skills aptitude.

Arreola enrolled in Ready to Work during her second semester when she was running out of financial aid and other options for covering her expenses. She’s been with the program for a year and a half and said it has allowed her to continue to pursue her college education.

“It’s a relief to know I don’t have to worry about the financial burden,” Arreola said. “If it wasn’t for the program’s resources, I probably would have quit during the semester to get a job so I could provide for my kids.”

Arreola works at the front desk of the College of Education and Human Development providing customer service. In the fall, she will do her field residency observing teachers in the classroom.

Goal: In-Demand, High-Paying Jobs

Grace Aguirre-Garcia, assistant director for Ready to Work at the Mays Center, said the focus of the program is to help place students and community members in high-demand industries that pay well, including aerospace, architecture, education, energy, oil and gas, utilities, finance, health care, information technology/cybersecurity, professional services, and transportation and logistics.

As of the spring semester, 329 A&M-San Antonio students were participating in Ready to Work, according to Aguirre-Garcia.

“The primary goal is high-quality education and workforce development for San Antonio citizens,” she said. “Ready to Work is one more source that’s helping students overcome barriers to completing their goals, whether it is receiving a degree or completing a certification program.”

Ready to Work provides financial assistance to students for courses and training. The program’s services include personal coaching on job skills, education, life challenges and goals, career and education planning, job placement, resume building, interview preparation, time management and soft skills.

Also, program participants could receive short-term assistance for unexpected emergencies such as for mortgage, rent, hotel, utilities, food and transportation.

For A&M-San Antonio students, that means they could get up to $4,100 per year for tuition and fees for up to three years, for a total of $12,300 in tuition assistance. To qualify for financial assistance, a student must have earned at least 30 credit hours.

Dr. Adriana Contreras, Mays Center associate vice president and executive director, said the Mays Center provides the career resources for students who are in the Ready to Work program.

“At the Mays Center, our motto is making sure our students are career-ready and community-minded,” Contreras said. “A lot of external partnerships come out of Mays (Center) because we work with a lot of employers. I think the career services piece is important because the goal of Ready to Work is helping individuals find occupations in high-demand fields with benefits that pay more than $15 per hour.”

Open Doors

Like Maria Arreola, Ethan Hernandez also benefited from Ready to Work. A first-generation college student, he graduated in December 2024. He enrolled in the program during his senior year and participated in the networking sessions, where he talked to other students and graduates about their experiences in the workforce.

“I really enjoyed those networking sessions,” Hernandez said. “The big outcome of it is going out of your comfort zone. Because you’re doing something that you want to do in life, that every morning when you wake up, you’re going to enjoy going to work.”

Hernandez said the Mays Center’s Ready to Work staff and counselors always have their doors open for students who have questions or need advice on career options.

“Build your bridges with people because there’s a strong network on campus,” ~ Ethan Hernandez

“They are able to meet students halfway,” he said. “That is one piece of advice I will give students, just build your bridges with people and one way to start is applying for Ready to Work.”

Before he graduated from A&M-San Antonio, Hernandez was able to use what he learned from Ready to Work to land an internship at Whitley Penn, an accounting firm that specializes in tax, audit and consulting services for several industries.

He plans to obtain his certified public accountant credential and has been accepted into graduate school at A&M-San Antonio, where he plans to pursue a Master of Professional Accounting degree.

Even though he has graduated from A&M-San Antonio, Hernandez said he can always take advantage of the resources offered by the Mays Center and Ready to Work.

“Stay connected with the people you engage with when you’re at A&M-San Antonio because there’s a strong network on campus,” he said.

Families, Communities Benefit

Aguirre-Garcia said Ready to Work had already paid over $34,000 in tuition assistance to A&M-San Antonio students for the spring 2025 semester. She said the investment Ready to Work has put into its participants will pay off in the long run, not only for them but their families and the local community.

“You have more educated talent, and they’re earning higher wages, and they’re local,” Aguirre-Garcia said. “They live here, work here, and they buy here, so it stimulates the economy. This whole loop has come full circle. They’re providing high-quality services to the people they’re serving in their jobs because they’re prepared.”

Moreover, these same skilled workers with higher earning potential are now able to better provide for their families, while showing them what’s possible through hard work, determination and perseverance.

“Ready to Work participants can serve as an inspiration to their families and community members,” Aguirre-Garcia said. “We’re essentially creating like-minded individuals who all are now living proof that education is a pathway to a better life.”

For information about Ready to Work, call the Mays Center at (210) 784-3300, email readytowork@tamusa.edu or visit the Ready to Work web page.