Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Jocelyn Almazan: Ready for what's next

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jocelyn Almazan was a 6th-grader at Spring Woods Middle School and thought her life was over.

“I remember being told that we wouldn’t be returning to school after Spring Break. Those were the worst months ever,” she recalls.

Now a senior at Northbrook High School, she realizes her life is just beginning. After graduation, she has her sights set on going to nursing school at the University of Houston to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

“I want a career where I can help others and make a positive impact on the world,” she said.

As she reflects on the people and experiences that have brought her this far, she is incredibly grateful to her parents for their steady guidance and support. They allowed her to participate in activities that helped her gain confidence in herself and her abilities.

Along the way, Jocelyn also found mentors at Northbrook who helped her turn her confidence into a plan for life after graduation. She’s also grateful to Mrs. Nassef, a teacher she met through her participation in Northbrook’s College, Career, & More One Goal program, which helps high school students prepare for life after graduation by providing structured support for college and career planning.

“Mrs. Nassef has served as a great source of motivation, and I don’t believe I would be where I am today without her influence on my life,” she said. “I will always be grateful to her for what she has done for me.”

Among the programs Jocelyn has participated in as an SBISD student, she says participating in the Ladies of Distinction (LD) had the most profound effect on her.

“LOD helped me realize that while there are many paths after high school, they all lead to the same purpose: setting a goal and staying committed to it,” she said.

The program helped her build leadership skills, practice showing up for others, and feel better prepared for whatever comes next.

As she looks ahead, Joceyln says SBISD helped her grow into someone prepared to take on the world with confidence.

“SBISD helped me become someone who is determined and ready for anything, including the challenge of becoming a nurse,” she said.

With graduation on the horizon and nursing school ahead, Joceyln is no longer the sixth-grader unsure of what comes next. She’s a young woman with a goal and the determination to achieve it.

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