The Door That Led Me to a World of Opportunities

Submitted by: Blanca Martinez, PAC alumni or former student
Theme : Spotlights

As my high school graduation approached, I didn't exactly know where I wanted to go to college. I did know, however, that I wanted to pursue a career in news broadcasting.

I enrolled at Palo Alto College and started my classes in the fall of 2007, hoping to find my path. I had some amazing professors at PAC who inspired me to continue pursuing my dreams, and I graduated with an associate's degree in TV/Radio Broadcasting.

PAC became the door that led me to a world of opportunities. It was there that I learned about the partnership between Palo Alto College and the University of Northern Iowa, through which qualifying students were awarded the Bridge Scholarship. After researching and looking into the programs UNI offered, I knew that was where I wanted to continue my education. I applied for the scholarship and was selected as one of the recipients. It was August of 2010 when I, along with more than a dozen more PAC graduates, packed up a few suitcases and flew to Iowa to start classes that fall. We met other PAC graduates who had received the Bridge Scholarship in previous years and were working on their bachelor's degrees. We formed our own community away from home, and it was then that I met my best friend, Karissa. Fast forward a few more years, and I graduated with a bachelor's in Electronic Media, but I still needed to complete my internship.

I decided to move back to Texas, knowing that San Antonio's media market was much bigger. It was now 2012, and I had decided to go knocking on doors — literally. The first place I went to was KVDA Telemundo San Antonio, where I was greeted by the General Manager, who introduced me to the News Director, and I was offered a paid internship on the spot! I ended up staying at the news station for 10 years in the roles of intern, producer assistant, prime time producer, on-air talent, weather anchor, and web editor/digital producer.

Although there are countless events that I am proud to have covered during my time in news, the highlight of my career was when I received a Lone Star Emmy award for my coverage of the winter storm that hit San Antonio in February 2021. I later decided to follow a different career path, not because I did not enjoy news anymore, but because news taught me that I had other interests.

In September 2022, I started a job in public education as the Communications Specialist for the Floresville Independent School District — the same district from which I graduated high school. I have found that I love working with students, and I have even been asked to speak to current journalism, photography, and AV high school students about my experiences. I am grateful to be where I am, and I know none of this would have been possible had I not started my journey at PAC.