(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Every night class that Samantha Trejo attends in the HVAC Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus brings her closer to her goal of becoming an HVAC technician — all while she balances a full-time job and motherhood.
“I wanted to learn a trade, and the HVAC Technology program on TSTC’s website caught my interest,” Trejo said. “I’ve watched videos from women who post their own HVAC jobs on social media. I figured if they can do it, I can as well.”
Trejo, who is pursuing an HVAC Residential Service Technician certificate of completion, said grasping the course material has come with some challenges.
“Electricity has been a challenging subject for me,” she said. “I’m a hands-on learner. As a mother, it’s not always easy to find time to read or watch instructional videos. But I make it a priority to meet my goals.”
As the only woman in the program at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, Trejo took the initiative to create a guide centered on motor diagrams and their applications.
“I wanted to create a guide for more women who enroll in this program,” she said. “It will make it easier for them to understand how things function,” she said.
The Harlingen native said she gained important tips from her instructors that will strengthen her skills.
“They emphasized the importance of doing the job right the first time, building rapport with your clients, showing compassion, charging fairly and taking the time to evaluate your work,” she said.
Christopher Hernandez is one of Trejo’s instructors at TSTC.
“Samantha’s commitment to the program reflects her dedication,” he said. “Despite her personal responsibilities, her strong work ethic is preparing her for success in the workforce.”
Trejo offered some advice for working parents who are thinking about going back to college.
“Just go for it, because having a purpose will keep you motivated,” she said.
In Texas, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn an average annual salary of $54,050, according to onetonline.org, which forecast the number of such workers to grow 17% in the state from 2022 to 2032.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and certificates of completion in HVAC Technology at its Abilene, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, North Texas, Waco and Williamson County campuses.
Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.