SWC News Center

From Performer to Paramedic: One Student’s Journey

By: Stephanie Kingston- July 18, 2026

For years, Ernest Sauceda performed on some of the world’s most recognizable stages.

He played classical violin with renowned mariachi groups, entertained guests aboard Disney Cruise Line ships, performed for audiences at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and Universal Studios Japan. He even spent a year in Saudi Arabia with Cirque du Soleil. Music took him across the globe and connected him with people from countless cultures.

However, Sauceda is now preparing for a very different kind of performance. His audience is a patient in crisis, the setting is the back of an ambulance, and the goal is preserving life. 

Since June 2025, Sauceda has been a student in Southwestern College’s Paramedic Program Class 53. It is an intensive 18-month program known throughout the region for producing highly skilled emergency medical professionals. After moving to San Diego three years ago, he researched several paramedic programs before choosing Southwestern.

“I was drawn to this program because of the reputation and reverence it has in the EMS community,” Sauceda said. “People spoke about it with a lot of respect, and I wanted to be part of a program that has high expectations of its students.”

Sauceda grew up in San Antonio, Texas, in a highly creative family. His older sister was a trained trumpet player. He followed in her musical footsteps, becoming a classical violinist at a young age. Performance quickly became his profession. He traveled extensively and built a career many aspiring artists would dream about. Yet another calling began to emerge.

The turning point came when his mother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. Sauceda and his sister became deeply involved in her care, spending countless hours with doctors, nurses, and oncology specialists. During a difficult period, one registered nurse stood out for the compassion and assistance she provided to him.“She helped us navigate some of the hardest moments,” Sauceda said. “I remember thinking that the way she supported us really mattered.” 

His mother’s illness changed the trajectory of both siblings’ lives. His sister became an RN, and Sauceda chose emergency medical services. Caring for others has become a full-circle tribute to his mother. “Its a way of honoring her.”

For Sauceda, the transition from performer to future paramedic may seem unexpected, but he sees a common thread.“Stepping onto a stage and stepping onto a medical scene are actually similar,” he said. “The stakes are obviously very different, but the adrenaline and the need to connect with another human being are the same.” It is that emphasis on human connection that has become central to his view of healthcare.

“I want to look like the community I want to help,” he said. “In today’s healthcare industry, we sometimes lose the human element. Yes, it’s a job, but seeing the person behind the illness, that personal aspect, is healing.”

Although the program is demanding, Sauceda says his favorite part so far has been the relationships forming within his cohort. One memory stands out. During a particularly difficult lab simulation, he became frustrated with himself for not grasping the skills as quickly was he wanted. A classmate pulled him aside and reminded him that everyone was learning for the first time. He believes that the sense of encouragement and mutual support from classmates to faculty isn't just built on individual effort, but on a cohort willing to lift one another up. 

When he completes the program, Sauceda hopes to work as an in-flight paramedic providing critical care during air medical transports. Another dream would be to create a nonprofit that expands access to emergency medical services for those who don’t have access. 

For Sauceda, the destination may have changed, but the purpose has not. Whether performing before thousands of people or caring for a single patient, he believes the work has always been about connection.

"I never expected I’d find my way to emergency medicine," Sauceda said. "But that's exactly where I am."