Stories: Rosa M. Berdeja – Dallas College

“I’ve just always wanted to go to law school, but I wasn’t able to start it right away. Going through the Paralegal program worked great for me to get into the legal field before I could go to law school. It also helped to confirm that law really is the right career for me.

“Law just makes sense to me, and it’s taken me a while to realize that not all people have the ability to see how the law applies to a certain situation. I thought that law just made sense to everyone. “I love being a paralegal; no day is ever boring. I never know what’s going to hit me when I walk through the door in the morning. And I’m always learning new things.

“The best thing about my paralegal education was that it prepared me to go on to get my bachelor’s degree. Even if I hadn’t gone forward with my education, though, I could have done a lot with just my associate degree. I was working for a large law firm while I was in the program and I got a promotion as soon as I got my associate degree.

“I would absolutely recommend El Centro’s Paralegal program. It gave me a great education and prepared me well for the workplace. The professors were great, and I got to meet a lot of people. The job I have now is because of contacts I made in El Centro’s Paralegal program. My associate degree also prepared me to go further in my education — to go on and earn a bachelor’s degree and to go to law school.”

Rose Berdeja earned an associate degree in El Centro’s Paralegal program in 2000, then earned a bachelor’s degree in applied arts and sciences from the University of North Texas. She is targeted to graduate from Texas Wesleyan University’s Law School, where she serves as co-president of the Hispanic Law Student Association. She has worked as a paralegal at Locke Lord Bissell and Liddell, primarily at its Fort Worth location, since 2006.

Maggie Brosowske, EMT-P, FF

Firefighter/Paramedic McKinney Fire Department

“The skills that I learned in the classroom, I use in the workplace all of the time. I’m the only female on my shift and one of only three female firefighter/paramedics in McKinney, but as long as I can pull my own weight, I’m fine.”

Fire Protection Technology

Rodolfo (Rudy) Salas

Hopeful future firefighter

“In my Fire Protection classes, I’ve learned a lot about how fire administration works — the chain of command — and it’s really exciting. I’m earning my associate degree because I think it will help me get my foot in the door and move toward my dream career as a firefighter.”

Fire Protection Technology

Roland Tay, M.D.

Special Education Teacher, Naaman Forest High School, Garland Adjunct Faculty, Eastfield

“I was already working on a master’s degree in alternative dispute resolution at SMU when I learned about El Centro’s program, where I earned a certificate in Family Mediation. I was thrilled to find out about their program because it was convenient and affordable. The program was well-designed, and the quality of instruction was excellent.”

Conflict Management

Lt. Kathy Mack

Campus Police Officer, Cedar Valley

“Going back to school with work and a family isn’t easy, but it’s attainable. There were a few times when I wanted to give up, but then I’d get encouragement and keep going. You’re going to have obstacles but you have to fight for your goals.”

Criminal Justice

Rosa M. Berdeja
Paralegal, Locke Lord Bissell and Liddell Texas Wesleyan University Law School student

Paralegal
School of Law and Public Service

Rosa M. Berdeja

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Maggie Brosowske, EMT-P, FF

Rodolfo (Rudy) Salas

Roland Tay, M.D.

Lt. Kathy Mack