[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
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On Women\u2019s Veterans’ Recognition Day, Ibarra looks back and those who paved the way\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 51ÁÔÆæ student and U.S. Army Veteran Dora Ibarra already has a lot of life under her belt.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She has served in the military, is raising two young children, and now is tackling a new mission: higher education. She is pursuing her general studies associate degree to one day work in law enforcement.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On June 12,<\/span> TSC joins in recognizing Women\u2019s Veterans Day. Ibarra says her support system and motivation comes from the Homefront.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy family inspires me,\u201d Ibarra said. \u201cI want to give them a better future, I want to give them opportunities to attend college in the future. I am studying criminal justice; I feel like I connect more in that area of study.\u201d\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She hopes to earn and wear a badge as a Texas State Trooper or county sheriff.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After earning her diploma from <\/span>Hanna Early College High School in 2016<\/span>, she decided to make the brave choice to enlist in the military which landed her on the tropical Island of Hawaii.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am a veteran, I served for 3 and a half years,\u201d Ibarra said. \u201cWe would go on mountains and put up antennas so the rest of the unit would have communications.\u201d\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Despite the service being primarily men, she had good things to say about the equal treatment of women in the Army.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn the unit that I served,<\/span> they really made me feel like I was just another soldier,\u201d she said. \u201cThey would not make me feel left out or excluded. They were very supportive but also, they didn\u2019t cut any extra slack or give any special treatment. Because of this experience, I have a strong work ethic.\u201d\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That strong work ethic is being put to the test while she studies at 51ÁÔÆæ with two young children that she raises.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On this Women\u2019s Veterans Day, she reflected on the courageous women servicepeople that argued for the right to serve on the front line in combat zones and dangerous conflicts.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am very thankful to those women that served before me, especially those that were in combat situations,\u201d Ibarra said. \u201c<\/span>When I joined,<\/span> women weren\u2019t really allowed to be in those <\/span>positions, and because they fought for that now, they<\/span> can and have that option.\u201d\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ibarra spoke highly of <\/span>the TSC Veterans\u2019 Success Center<\/span> which played a large role in getting her enrolled and helping her succeed as a student.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe <\/span>Veterans\u2019 Success Center<\/span> has been very helpful,\u201d she said. \u201cI remember not knowing what to do, not knowing <\/span>where to start, and<\/span> then a friend told me that TSC had this veterans center. Mr. Mark Aguero told me what I needed and did everything for me, he was extremely helpful. Whenever I need to focus <\/span>on an assignment, I<\/span> really like going to that room because it is a place where you can really focus and get things done.\u201d\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She has a message for those who may consider signing up for the armed forces.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor those that <\/span>want to serve, I really<\/span> recommend it. It can help you build a type of discipline that we all need.\u201d\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”2657,2658,2659,2660,2661,2662,2663″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On Women\u2019s Veterans’ Recognition Day, Ibarra looks back and those who paved the way\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 51ÁÔÆæ student and U.S. Army Veteran Dora Ibarra already has a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":205,"featured_media":2662,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_gspb_post_css":"","_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[116,152],"tags":[77,23,38,76,16,19,153,154],"class_list":["post-2655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-student-highlight","category-veterans-success-center","tag-77","tag-brownsville","tag-cameron-county","tag-rio-grande-valley","tag-texas-southmost-college","tag-tsc","tag-veteran","tag-veterans","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n