This June, Selena Carrizales walked across the stage at Houston's Northside High School carrying more than a diploma. She carried a milestone—one that reaches far beyond her own future. Carrizales is among the first seniors in Northside history to graduate with an associate degree already completed through a partnership between Houston Independent School District and Houston City College, a moment that marks both personal triumph and a new chapter for her school.

Carrizales is the first in her family to go to college, and the weight of that achievement isn’t lost on her.

“I’m the first generation going to college,” she says, smiling. “My mom is like, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe it!’ She’s really proud of me, and I’m really proud of myself for going through this journey. Honestly, I could have given up, but I didn’t. I pushed forward, because I know my mom worked hard to get me here, so I’m definitely working hard for myself as well.”

At just 18 years old, she earned her Associate of Arts degree from Houston City College while completing her high school coursework. For her, the reward is more than a credential.

“It’s a great honor to receive both my associate degree and my high school diploma,” she says. “Having the opportunity to get both will benefit me in the future.”

More than 550 students in the Houston Independent School District Class of 2026 earned associate degrees, saving their families as much as $12,000 in college costs before they ever left high school. This fall, Carrizales will leave Texas and enroll at the University of Virginia, where she plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology. Her dream is to become a veterinarian, specializing in helping domestic animals—especially the dogs and cats she’s loved since childhood.

The associate degree Carrizales earned doesn’t just give her a head start academically—it gives her financial breathing room.

"It’s great. I’m saving most of my money for going out of state,” she says. "I know some credits are going to transfer, so I don’t have to spend money on that. It’s going to be great, honestly.”