The Opportunity Cycle

Ten-year-old Kooper Pope already knows what he wants to be when he grows up.

"A NASA scientist," he said without hesitation.

He has years of school ahead before he begins designing spacecraft or exploring the universe. But unlike many children his age, Kooper doesn't see college as a distant idea reserved for adults. He already sees it as part of his future.

That realization began with a small passport.

During fourth grade at Kay Franklin Elementary School, Kooper participated in Texas A&M University-San Antonio's Passport to College program. Launched in 2025, the initiative partners with local elementary schools to introduce students to college through monthly activities and interactive passport workbooks focused on careers, goal setting and what it means to attend college.

As part of the University's mission to transform lives, Passport to College represents the first step in a larger educational journey. From elementary school outreach and Early College High School partnerships to teacher preparation and alumni serving in local classrooms, A&M-San Antonio is building a multigenerational pipeline that supports students from childhood through college and into the workforce.

Planting the Seed

Through Passport to College, Kooper learned college vocabulary, explored different careers, set personal goals, and, perhaps most importantly, began picturing himself on a university campus.

The experience culminated in an unexpected honor. Kooper was selected as one of only two students to speak during the program's graduation-style recognition ceremony at the University's Recreation Center. After the ceremony, students and their families toured the campus, visited classrooms and learned about resources that help students stay on a path toward higher education.

"This has been huge for our family," said Kooper's mother, Kourtney Pope.

Her perspective comes from experience.

Kourtney was the first person in her extended family, including 13 cousins, to earn a college degree. Looking back, she often wonders how different her own educational journey might have been if a program like Passport to College had existed when she was young.

"We didn't have leaders guiding us and really promoting college," she said. "I just knew I wanted to go because no one in my family had."

Programs like Passport to College, she said, give today's students something her generation rarely had: a roadmap.

"It opens their eyes to what's possible," she said. "It helps them set goals and gives them a path to follow."

Getting a Head Start

While Passport to College introduces elementary students to the possibilities of higher education, the University's Early College and Academic Partnerships program allows high school students to experience college firsthand.

When Tabitha De La Rosa enrolled at Harlandale STEM Early College High School, she became part of the first class to participate in the district's partnership with Texas A&M University-San Antonio. The program allows eligible students to earn high school and college credit simultaneously.

By the time she graduated from high school this spring, Tabitha had completed 60 college credit hours, the equivalent of two full years toward a bachelor's degree.

"I started taking classes my sophomore year," she said.

Each day, she and other students rode a school bus to the A&M-San Antonio campus, where they attended classes alongside traditional college students.

Her first two semesters focused on introductory courses such as composition, literature and college algebra. Before long, she was taking accounting, business law and other courses directly related to her business administration major.

"It was a lot to juggle," she said. "It was daunting. You're with actual professors and adults."

Support from faculty, peer mentors and fellow Early College students helped ease the transition. The University’s first-year seminar introduced her to campus resources, including tutoring, the Writing Center and other academic support services.

"This experience helped me become the individual that I am," she said. "Not only academically but learning how to manage my time and become independent."

The benefits are already paying off.

This fall, De La Rosa will begin her junior year at A&M-San Antonio, where her tuition is fully covered through Jaguar Promise. Rather than worrying about college costs, she is already planning to earn an MBA and pursue a career in nonprofit management.

"Now that I'm entering college," she said, "it doesn't feel as overwhelming."

Building Career-Ready Graduates

The University's support doesn't end at graduation. A&M-San Antonio also prepares students to enter the workforce with the skills, knowledge and hands-on experience they need to succeed. Across every college, students apply what they learn in the classroom through internships, research, field experiences and community partnerships that mirror the challenges they'll face in their careers. By graduation, they're equipped with the tools they need to realize their professional dreams.

For Julie Mello, the dream of becoming a teacher began decades ago.

"My pre-K teacher was the one who made me want to become a teacher," she said.

Life, however, took her in a different direction. Marriage and raising a family led her to build a career at H-E-B, and she eventually accepted that teaching might remain only a dream.

Everything changed after an unexpected conversation with a younger coworker.

"It doesn't matter how old you are," the coworker told her. "You can always go back to school."

Inspired by those words, Julie earned her associate degree before transferring to A&M-San Antonio. She is now completing an interdisciplinary studies degree with EC-6 teacher certification, which qualifies her to teach students from early childhood through sixth grade.

This fall marks her final semester. Instead of attending classes on campus, she will spend each weekday completing her clinical teaching assignment in Somerset ISD.

Clinical teaching immerses education majors in the profession by placing them in classrooms full-time, where they assume the daily responsibilities of a classroom teacher and apply everything they have learned in their coursework.

For Julie, it's the moment she has been working toward.

"I'm excited to actually get into the classroom and use everything I've learned these last two years," she said.

I want to give back to the community I came from. We need good teachers.

~ Julie Mello

The schedule won't be easy, as she'll continue working part-time at H-E-B while spending her weekdays in the classroom.

It's a demanding balance, but one she planned carefully. If Somerset ISD offers her a teaching position after graduation, she'll gladly accept.

"I want to give back to the community I came from," she said. "We need good teachers."

Coming Full Circle

While Julie is preparing to begin her teaching career, Alyssa Garcia has already stepped into her own classroom.

This spring, Garcia graduated from A&M-San Antonio with a degree in interdisciplinary studies. Today, the first-generation college graduate teaches third grade in North East ISD, one of the largest school districts in the San Antonio area. As a new teacher, she draws on the practical skills and classroom experience she developed at A&M-San Antonio, from designing engaging lesson plans and managing a classroom to building meaningful relationships with students and families.

A San Antonio native and the oldest of six siblings, Garcia grew up facing significant financial hardship. At times, her family experienced homelessness, moving among churches, shelters and the homes of friends.

Her path became even more challenging when she had two children while still in high school. Continuing her education often seemed out of reach, but she remained determined to build a better future for herself and her family.

She began at San Antonio College, earned an associate degree and transferred to A&M-San Antonio in 2022 with support from financial aid and the Ready to Work program.

I think everything I've been through and now I'm ready to start my career and show my kids and my family what's possible.

~Alyssa Garcia

On campus, Garcia became a mentor for transfer students and served as president of JagsTEACH, a student organization that supports future educators through professional development and networking. She launched peer study groups and organized interview coaching sessions with a local school district to help fellow education majors prepare for the job market.

Her academic success and leadership earned her a place in the University's inaugural Enhanced Teacher Residency program, where she completed a yearlong residency in a third-grade classroom. The experience led directly to her teaching position with North East ISD.

"I think about everything I've been through and the times I wanted to quit," Garcia said. "I didn't, and now I'm ready to start my career and show my kids and my family what's possible."

The stories of Kooper, Tabitha, Julie and Alyssa demonstrate that education is more than a single milestone — it's a lifelong journey.

At A&M-San Antonio, that journey begins when children first imagine themselves wearing a graduation cap. It continues as high school students earn college credit and the confidence to succeed. It grows as graduates gain experience in their professions.

And it comes full circle when graduates return to roles across South Texas, inspiring the next generation to imagine what's possible.