Bridging opportunity gaps for rural students

Early career exploration is vital to helping youth understand the breadth of career opportunities that exist in the world. This is especially important for students in rural areas who—by nature of their proximity to fewer people in a variety of roles and industries—can often enter the latter years of their K-12 education with limited knowledge about what life after high school could look like for them. 

This scenario rings true in Alice, Texas, a rural community of about 17,500 residents in South Texas. Alice High School health science teacher Perla Aguilar is passionate about helping her students explore careers in medicine. A licensed occupational therapy assistant, she works on giving them the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their life’s path—while also strengthening health care access in the region. 

“Early career exploration is essential for student success, because it helps students make informed decisions about their future, potentially saving both time and financial resources, which are often limited,” Aguilar said. “By exploring health care careers early, students can identify their interests and align their academic choices accordingly, ensuring they take the necessary prerequisite courses and build a strong foundation for competitive program applications.”

Alice ISD became engaged with the Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine’s Rural Medicine Program in 2023 by bringing a cohort of students to the School to Scrubs Rural Med Camp in College Station, Texas. 

In the school district, 90.88% of students qualify as economically disadvantaged, and many students come from homes where their parents have not attended college. This reality makes learning experiences like the School to Scrubs camp necessary to showcase what a career in the health care industry could look like after high school—while equipping them with the knowledge of what it would take to reach that career destination. 

“The cost of tuition, transportation and educational materials can make pursuing health care-related programs particularly challenging,” Aguilar said. “Our students are enthusiastic and eager to learn, while being motivated by curiosity and compassion. They value real-world, hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for future success in the medical field and beyond.” 

Aguilar has found that engaging with the Rural Medicine Program’s K-12 initiatives helps fuel that curiosity. Through camp attendance, hosting current medical students via Zoom in the classroom, and participating in the School to Scrubs Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) series—which offers professional development for educators—Alice ISD students are gaining invaluable insight about higher education and pathways to medical school or other health care careers. 

“One of the most meaningful impacts has been the representation and relatability students experience when meeting medical students from rural backgrounds,” Aguilar said. “Seeing individuals who share similar experiences and have successfully advanced to medical school inspires our students to believe in our own potential. It reinforces that dreams are achievable, regardless of their background.”

Aguilar said the program has encouraged “a culture of aspiration and opportunity” within the community. She has witnessed students with limited to no knowledge about Texas A&M University leave events eager to attend college there, has watched interest in the Rural Medicine Program initiatives offered through Alice ISD double in just two years, and sees tremendous value in the hands-on instruction her students have received since connecting with the program. Experiential learning through programs like this helped 91% of Alice High School’s class of 2025 graduate College, Career, and Military Ready, per Texas Education Agency standards.

“Watching students engage in real-world medical activities and interact with health care professionals reinforces the belief that we are helping shape a stronger, more informed and more compassionate future health care workforce,” Aguilar said. “Participating in this program reaffirms my commitment as an educator to the importance of bridging opportunity gaps for rural students and encourages me to continue promoting partnerships that inspire and empower the next generation of health care providers.”