(WACO, Texas) – Jimmy Guerrero, of Olton, is a fall candidate for graduation for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. He also worked for three semesters as a resident advisor at the on-campus Village Oaks Apartments.
“I am pretty happy about graduation and look forward to it,” he said. “I am not nervous. My family is going to come here, and I will walk in the ceremony.”
Guerrero is a graduate of Olton High School.
He is currently undertaking his job hunt to do welding in the Lubbock area.
How did you become interested in TSTC and the Welding Technology program?
TSTC came to our college day at my high school. Since I was doing welding in high school and I went to welding events and saw TSTC offered Welding Technology, I figured I would give it a try. The cost was also good. It is about a six-hour drive from Olton to Waco.
I have enjoyed being in the associate program. I got to do the robotics and programming side of welding. That is what I found interesting and caught my eye. That is something more advanced than what I was doing in high school. Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding is my favorite kind of welding.
What is the significance of your welding helmet design?
I started off with a regular black one. But I have been using my current one for three semesters. I ordered it online. It has a cross, cowboy and horse on it. He (my father) liked the (cross) symbol a lot, and he had horses and was a cowboy. He had the symbol on his truck. We put that symbol on his grave to represent who he was. It’s a pretty nice helmet, and it represents him. So every time I wear it, I think of him, and he is there with me. He passed away when I was in high school as I was looking for scholarships to pay for college.
What was your first semester like at TSTC?
City life was way different at the beginning. I had to use my GPS every single day. I came here not knowing anybody really. But I made friends in the Welding Technology program since the first week, and we have hung out every day since then. I will keep in touch with them here. I was a blank slate coming in, I felt like.
How did you become a resident advisor?
I am not really a people person, but Crystal Vela, the former assistant director of residence life at Village Oaks, asked me if I wanted to be a resident advisor. I have never been a desk person answering phones. She broke me out of my bubble, and I have her to thank for that. Ever since, I have become more open with people.
What motivates you daily?
I guess the way I was raised. I take every opportunity I have. The earlier I get up, I feel like the more I have to do and the more options I have opening up for me throughout the day.
What advice do you have for new students?
Have good time management. I remember when I first got here, I was not waking up until noon. I started getting up earlier before class so I had something to do and could eat breakfast. The more I made a schedule while living here, the more organized I got.
TSTC’s Waco campus will have its Fall 2022 Commencement at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at The BASE at Extraco Events Center in Waco.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.
