(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Like some Welding Technology students, Rogelio Del Toro did not have much welding experience before enrolling at Texas State Technical College.
His inexperience did not stop him from setting a goal of earning a certificate and finding a job, however.
“My father did some welding, and I tried it in middle school,” Del Toro said. “I figured after high school I would study welding, and I plan to work on wind turbines.”
Del Toro’s inexperience is turning into confidence, according to TSTC welding instructor Daniel Aguirre.
“He has shown a lot of improvement since his first semester,” he said.
Del Toro plans to earn his certificate and graduate in August. He wants to prove to himself that he can work as a welder.
Aguirre’s teaching style and learning by watching other students is part of Del Toro’s strategy to succeed.
“I like the way Daniel teaches us things. He has been out in the field and tells us what to expect,” he said. “I like the way we can talk to each other and look at the different techniques in class. That helps us improve as students.”
During the course of his studies, Del Toro has noticed a change in his approach before taking a project to Aguirre for review.
“I have learned how to inspect my own work before showing it to Daniel. We need to be confident in our work,” he said.
Aguirre said one thing he wants all of his students to have is confidence.
“Students need to build and maintain that confidence all the time,” he said.
Del Toro, who was raised in Brownwood, hopes more people will look at the Welding Technology program, which is available at all 10 of TSTC’s campuses around the state.
“This is a good program that will teach you a career,” he said.
A career opportunity for Del Toro was another reason he enrolled at TSTC.
“The hands-on aspect is great, and I really liked having people available to help me with resumes and interviews,” he said. “I have been able to learn and achieve a lot of things in school that I would not have dreamt of before. TSTC has made that possible.”
For more information, visit tstc.edu.
