(HUTTO, Texas) – Ethan Williams was an engineer until he decided he wanted to be more hands-on.
“My father passed, and it got me thinking about how much time people really have,” Williams said. “I got into engineering because I wanted to do hands-on things.”
Williams was a programmer at a pressure vessel software company for 18 years. Now he is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology at Texas State Technical College’s Williamson County campus to get back to hands-on work.
“I’m a full-time student shifting into something a little different,” he said. “I talked to friends and family to make sure my plan made sense, and I’m approaching this as a career break to learn new skills.”
John Wythe, a Precision Machining Technology instructor at TSTC’s Williamson County campus, said Williams is a great student and a great person.
“Ethan picks up on machining principles like he was a machinist in a past life, and he’s active in an animal rescue too,” Wythe said. “Ethan was out for a few days recently because a dog he is fostering needed heart surgery. He’s doing so well in class that it wasn’t an issue.”
Williams said animal rescue is just something he does but school is still a top priority.
“I do rescue dogs with Pug Rescue Austin,” Williams said. “My current foster is Bingo, who had a heart murmur. His prognosis is much better now, and he’ll be adoptable soon. I made sure my work was caught up before missing any days, though.”
Williams also made sure to attend the recent TSTC job fair hosted at the TSTC campus in Waco to explore his opportunities.
“I went to the job fair to get an idea of the employers,” Williams said. “Going there reinforced the skills I’m gaining in the program. What I want to learn and do is in line with the skills the employers want me to develop and have.”
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and a certificate of completion in Precision Machining Technology, as well as a certificate of completion in CNC Machine Operator, at its Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas, Waco and Williamson County campuses.
Precision Machining Technology is also one of TSTC’s Money-Back Guarantee programs. For more information, visit tstc.edu/mbg.
Registration for TSTC’s summer and fall semesters begins March 24.
To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.
