(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – “Every mile is worth it.”
That is how Morayma “Ray” Mireles sums up her experience in the paramedic program at Texas State Technical College’s Brownwood campus. Each Wednesday, the third-semester student travels 268 total miles from Springtown to attend class.
Those miles do not even include her travel to clinical rotations. On top of her heavy school schedule, Mireles works as an emergency medical technician (EMT) for Sacred Cross EMS in Palo Pinto County.
Miranda Hicks, one of her instructors, described Mireles in one word: dedicated.
However, medicine was not Mireles’ first career choice.
“I was going into law enforcement,” she said, noting that as a teenager she wanted to work as an air marshal for the U.S. Marshals Service. “I was scared to get into medicine.”
When she was 16, Mireles was at a New Mexico hospital waiting for her niece to be discharged when a pivotal moment occurred.
“I heard the helicopter land and watched the pilot walk into the hospital,” she said. “I told myself, ‘I can do that.’”
She spoke with a friend who worked as an EMT to learn more about the field and ask about becoming a medical pilot.
“I was told that I would have to become a paramedic,” Mireles said. “But first, you have to be an EMT. I was all in at that point.”
Her innate desire to help others fueled her journey toward becoming a first responder. After gaining experience as an EMT, she decided to advance her education. While there were training programs closer to her home, TSTC stood out for one main reason: the supportive faculty and staff.
“When I spoke to Miranda, my first impression was that she would be supportive,” Mireles said.
Hicks quickly convinced her that the program was the right fit.
“I had a lot of self-doubt. I felt my brain was not ready to return to school,” Mireles said. “But everyone at TSTC, from Miranda to the front office, made me feel confident.”
That supportive environment helped Mireles realize her value on campus.
“I am not just a number or a paycheck,” she said. “Everyone wants to see us succeed.”
With her doubts behind her, Mireles has watched herself grow.
“I am being shaped into the paramedic that I want to be,” she said. “I love this career field. It is my passion.”
She credits much of her success to her peers, who routinely support one another outside of normal class hours.
“I love the people in this class. I would cry if they did not pass a test,” Mireles said.
Classmate Kyle Riley said Mireles brings a positive energy to the classroom.
“She is fun to be around, and she has a great attitude and energy,” Riley said, adding that her mindset will serve her well in the field. “She works in a rural area and will be able to help a lot of people.”
Hicks agreed, noting that Mireles helps set a supportive tone for the entire cohort.
“She is always around to encourage her classmates,” Hicks said.
While students spend significant time inside the campus lab, Mireles said a recent trip to a cadaver lab was a highlight of her training.
“We were able to inflate the lungs with the respirator bag,” she said. “That puts a lot of things that we do in the lab into better perspective.”
Students also examined the cadaver’s skull and other organs, reinforcing the practical, hands-on nature of the curriculum.
“I like that this program is really hands-on,” Mireles said.
For someone who initially resisted a medical career, Mireles’ aspirations have expanded significantly since her teenage years in New Mexico.
“I do love working in medicine,” she said. “So much so that I may continue my education to become a physician or a physician assistant.”
As for those long Wednesday morning drives to Brownwood, Mireles relies on a diverse soundtrack to keep her focused.
“I love hard rock. I listen to a lot of Pantera and Megadeth. I also like Fleetwood Mac,” she said. “And since I have to work on some Sundays, I like to listen to inspirational music.”
Registration is open for the fall semester. For more information, visit TSTC.edu.