B’port High School soccer standout also excels as BC dual credit graduate

Samantha Garcia is already known as one of the best soccer athletes in Brazoria County.

A three-year starter for Brazosport High School’s varsity soccer squad, Samantha has led the team in scoring all three of those seasons. This year alone she helped captain the Lady Ships to a District 24-4A championship, while earning district co-MVP and second-team all-region honors.

Samantha’s skills on the pitch have even earned her a soccer scholarship to Texas Southern University this coming fall.

What many don’t realize about Samantha, however, is that she’s earned much more than a diploma from Brazosport High School and a slew of soccer accolades. At only 17 years of age, she also has an Associate of Science degree from Brazosport College.

Samantha is one of 10 Brazoria County high school students to earn college degrees this year through Brazosport College’s dual credit program. She achieved this by supplementing her junior and senior years of high school with a full load of college courses.

No doubt, earning an associate degree while still attending high school is a challenge. For Samantha, a high-level athlete who also participates on both high school and club soccer squads, it seems as if it would be a near-impossible task.

Don’t tell her that, though.

“It’s really hard, but I just manage my time and organize everything,” Samantha said of her busy schedule. “I have to write everything down on my calendar, and prioritize my classes and homework.

“I study a lot at night and I work out during the day,” she added. “I try to balance it by combining everything. I might listen to a podcast while I’m working out or I will work out when I have a break from homework.”

If that’s not enough, Samantha completed her studies at Brazosport with a 98.4 grade average and graduated with 10 cords noting the multiple high school organizations she participated in. To name just a few, she was president of the STEM Academy, treasurer of HOSA, secretary for PALs, and held memberships in Student Council, National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, among others.

For Samantha, enrolling in dual credit classes and working toward an associate degree wasn’t about proving how many things she could take on at one time. Rather, she’s looking ahead to her future, hopefully as a mechanical engineer.

“I wanted to get a head start,” she said. “I felt that if I got a degree at a younger age, I could get into the workforce faster. I could be ahead of all the other people my age.

As she’s proven in athletics, Samantha is also a fierce competitor, and this drive extends far beyond sports.

“My ultimate goal is to be my dad’s boss,” she said with a laugh.

Although she’s excited for her future, both as an athlete at TSU and later with a profitable career in the workforce, Samantha is currently taking a short break to celebrate and reflect on her accomplishments and achievements. And when she looks back, she’s quick to admit that her experience at Brazosport College has been one of her academic highlights.

“I’ve loved Brazosport College,” she said. “I’d tell anyone who asks me about dual credit classes to do it. It’s a great experience and you learn so much from it. You’ll not only grow as a student, but also as a person.”