Texas high school student makes history with associate’s degree, college head start

Making a little history in high school is helping Lilia Vasquez Deras make a big advance in her college education.

Deras is the first student from Eaton High School in Haslet, which opened in 2015, to graduate high school with a two-year jump on college. Through the school’s accelerated program, she has already received her associate’s degree from Tarrant County College.

She will be entering Texas A&M in the fall as a junior.

“It allows me to go into college with ease. This means that I won’t have to take 18 credits a semester and instead I can take a lighter load, like 12 credits and still graduate early,” she said, already looking to accelerate her college studies. “It gives me a chance to focus on my classes and enjoy college at the same time.

“From the financial side, my parents will be saving tons of money and they are happy about that.”

She said she had a lot of support from her school counselors, allowing her to take all the dual credit classes she needed to get her associates degree — and make history. Now, she is graduating with honors and a 3.8 GPA.

True definition of student-athlete

“Lilia is a dedicated student-athlete. She does an outstanding job prioritizing and balancing her extremely rigorous course load, athletics and extracurricular activities,” counselor Rebecca Kelley said. “She is consistent, mature and ambitious.”

Being a four-year varsity soccer player — along with playing at the highest level of club soccer — also helped, Deras said, noting the discipline required. She has played the sport ever since she was a little child.

“Soccer is a team sport that has taught me many life lessons on how to deal with adversity and to work together within a team,” she said.

Deras helped Eaton advance to regional competition the past two seasons.

“Her maturity and high standards have played a large role in her success as an athlete and a student, and as a person with such values it is no surprise that she would be able to achieve so much,” Eaton girls soccer coach Aaron Chevalier said. “We are extremely proud of Lilia for attaining this accomplishment and are glad to see her hard work pay off in a great way.”

Deras plans to have a double major of public health and nursing and enter the nursing profession after college. She will be the first in her family to go into that field, having been inspired by her mother being diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago (she’s in remission now).

“She was super strong, and we are very thankful for all the healthcare workers that helped her through this,” she said.

The second event that inspired her was the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I got to see firsthand how it affected people very close to me. First responders really inspired me because they put their own health on the line to help others,” Deras said.

And, as if she wasn’t already studying enough, last summer she received her certified nursing assistant certification.

“Going through that process I was able to learn firsthand what nurses do,” she said.

Setting a good example for others

Deras hopes she is inspiring others to follow her lead and get a head start on college.

“Taking college level classes during high school really prepares you mentally to go to a four-year college. I learned how to manage my schedule, communicate with my professors, and take ownership of my grades,” she said. “I don’t consider myself as a super smart person, but I do consider myself as a very hard worker.”

Eaton Principal Stacy Miles said Deras is an example of her school’s vision and has given the school another “first” to build upon.

“We hope that many more will be inspired by her accomplishments,” Miles said.