Denton ISD Our Impact In Your Community Magazine Fall 2017 | Page 22

Who: 2016 Graduate of Fred Moore High School
Hometown: Lake Dallas, TX
Age: 20
Catching Up with…
Carlos Guerrero
Story and photos by Courtney Martin
What’s up?
When you ask elementary students what they
want to be when they grow up, a common
response might be a “doctor” or a “lawyer.”
Few students actually stick with the career
field they chose in their younger days. Carlos
Guerrero is one of those exceptions.
Overcoming a difficult high school experience in
a neighboring district, Carlos graduated from
Fred Moore High School and in less than one
year, enrolled at North Central Texas College
(NCTC). In record fashion, he completed the
phlebotomy program, passed the National
Phlebotomy Exam, earned national certification
and was hired at UT Southwestern Medical
Center full-time.  Now, he’s on the path to
further his learning in the surgical field and
someday be called Dr. Guerrero.
But don’t take our word for it,
here is Carlos in his own words…
Denton ISD: Tell us about your journey and
how you ended up at FMHS.
Carlos Guerrero: I was kicked out of my
tr aditional high school due to attendance, and I
never thought I’d finish. Fred Moore High gave
me an opportunity. I was surrounded by bad
acquaintances and friends. I didn’t really care
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about much except myself.
Then, my girlfriend and I got pregnant and it
motivated me. I realized I wasn’t being who I
was raised to be. I wanted to change and FMHS
gave me the opportunity to get my diploma. I
finally believed in myself and did it for my future
family. I also never saw myself going to college,
I just figured it wasn’t for me.
One of the reasons I ended up going was
because of a grant I received through NCTC
and I thought “why not?”. I started in the
phlebotomy program and am still progressing,
with plans to work in surgery.
DISD: What made you decide to go
into phlebotomy?
CG: Since I was little, I have seen myself working
in a medical field and being a doctor. It always
interested me and I wanted to try it out to see
if I actually liked it. My job is to draw the blood,
go to the lab, and test the blood and specimens.
I go room to room and draw a patient’s blood
and send it to the lab. On an average day, I
probably see 30-40 patients.
DISD: So, do you think you’ll go on to medical
school to become a doctor someday?
CG: I still want to be a doctor and for now,
phlebotomy is a good first step. I would like to
go back to NCTC and do their surgical program.