Dallas County Promise became her “golden ticket” to a post-secondary education. Now she’s in her dream job as a veterinary assistant thanks to her degrees from Dallas College and UNT Dallas.
Diana Lopez will be the first to tell you that working with animals is really about working with people. Lucky for her and for every anxious pet owner who walks through her clinic door, she’s great at both.
Three years into her role at Country Brook Animal Hospital in Garland, she’s drawing blood, running X-rays, assisting with surgeries, and managing a waiting room full of dogs of all sizes, cats, and the occasional bunny. She loves every part of it. But ask her how she got here, and she’ll tell you she didn’t know it would be possible until an assembly in her high school auditorium.
“I Didn’t Know What I Was Doing”
Diana is a first-generation college graduate. No older siblings had gone before her. No one in her family had navigated applications, financial aid, or college registration. When senior year arrived, she didn’t know where to start or whether college was even realistic.
“My dad was the only one working at the time,” she says. “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to afford it.”
She wasn’t alone in feeling that way. A lot of her classmates were in the same position: Capable, motivated, but without a roadmap…until Dallas County Promise showed up.
One Day That Changed Everything
Diana’s school in Garland ISD was one of the first to implement Dallas County Promise. And the way they did it made an impact.
“They took a whole day from our classes,” Diana remembers. “They took everyone to the auditorium and gave us a crash course on how to do it. Then they walked us all to the computer lab so we could sign up right then and there, with advisors standing by for questions.”
For Diana, that day was a turning point. “When I did my Pledge, I felt relief more than anything,” she says. (Today the Pledge is called the Path Form, the step where you tell Dallas County Promise where you’re headed, and they commit to helping you get there) “I come from a family where only my dad was working. I didn’t know if I could afford college.This [Pledge] was my hail Mary. My golden ticket.”
She wasn’t figuring it out alone, either. Her friend Betsy and a team of advisors were right there with her. They texted each other about deadlines, appointments, and which links to click on the website. “It was a work in progress for all of us,” Diana says with a laugh. But with advisors at every step (at her high school, then at Richland, then at UNT Dallas) someone was always there to guide her forward.
Step by Step
Diana started at Dallas College’s Richland location, working toward her associate’s degree. Half her friend group was there too. “We all said, ‘We’re not going to say goodbye, we’re all going to see each other at Richland next year.'”
From there, she transferred to UNT Dallas to pursue a bachelor’s in biology. She wasn’t sure yet whether she wanted to go into human medicine or veterinary medicine, so she chose a degree that left both doors open. By the time she was finishing her bachelor’s, she had started working at Country Brook and the answer became obvious.
“I was like, hey, I think this is probably what I want to do the rest of my life,” she said. And a lot of what she learned at UNT Dallas applied directly to her job. “Getting the experience in communication and especially biology, microbiology…that’s used a lot here whenever we’re looking at things in the microscope or doing different cytology and things like that, I came in already knowing.”
What the Path Form Actually Covered
Through it all, Dallas County Promise helped cover her tuition. FAFSA helped with books and extras. Her mom kept asking if she was sure she didn’t need help paying for anything.
“I was like, no. I completed the Path Form. I’m getting my associate’s. I’m getting my bachelor’s.”
She barely paid anything out of pocket. And she’s thought about what that meant beyond just saving money. “If you want to go further, get your doctorate, specialize…that money you save in those first years of college? You can put that toward the next step.”
What She Wants You to Know
Diana has one piece of advice for students considering Dallas County Promise: Don’t wait to find out if it’s available at your school.
Having a degree makes a big difference. Speak to your advisor, see if it’s something that’s offered in your school. Have that safety net. Even if you change your mind along the way, you still have that that option there.”
She pauses, then adds something quieter.
“I really don’t know where I would be without this. I thought maybe I’d need to take a gap year, figure things out. Maybe I’d still be in retail somewhere.” Her voice drops. “I don’t like to think about it too much because I really do not know where my future would be if not for this program.”
She laughs softly, eyes welling. “Cue the waterworks.” Having your dreams come true can make you emotional.
Dallas County Promise covers tuition at Dallas College and pathway programs to four-year universities for eligible Dallas County students. Find out if your school participates and complete the Path Form at dallascountypromise.org.
