When Esteban Parra graduated from San Miguel High School in Tucson, Arizona, last year, he was the first member of his family to go on to college. Esteban was accepted at six colleges but finally enrolled at Boston College, where he was awarded a full scholarship to pursue his goal of a nursing degree.

Like his classmates at San Miguel, a Cristo Rey Network school that utilizes the corporate internship model, Esteban took a full course of studies while working in entry level positions in local businesses, thereby earning over half of his school tuition. As a freshman and sophomore, Esteban worked in the General Distribution Division of the Supply and Delivery Department at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He repeated the rotation in his senior year, where he was promoted to the Sterilization Division for the operation and emergency rooms. It was this internship experience that gave Esteban his desire to pursue a nursing career. Eventually, he hopes to become a travelling nurse where he envisions going “around the world to help . . . people who are suffering in different ways.”

San Miguel High School opened in August of 2004 and graduated its first class in May 2008. For more information on its programs, go to http://www.sanmiguelhigh.org.