(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Valeria Gonzalez, a Welding Technology student at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, was first introduced to welding by her father when she was a teenager.
With encouragement from her brother during high school, she discovered a natural talent for the trade that would shape her future.
“I watched my father work on welding projects in our backyard,” Gonzalez said. “In high school I would walk past the welding shop on my way to class. One day I stopped to talk to my brother who was a welding student. His teacher introduced himself and said I should join the welding program before my senior year ended. I agreed.”
Gonzalez said that building a foundation in welding gave her motivation.
“I was the only beginner in the welding class in high school, and the welding teacher taught me well,” the Los Fresnos native said. “(He) suggested that I attend TSTC in Harlingen to continue improving my skills.”
Gonzalez is studying for an Advanced Pipe Specialization certificate of completion in TSTC’s Welding Technology program.
“The instructors are great at clarifying anything that I didn’t understand during a lecture,” she said. “They teach us tricks for different welding techniques. I enjoy welding because it opens up many opportunities.”
Juan Avila is one of Gonzalez’s instructors at TSTC.
“Valeria has shown strides in her technical skills, confidence and leadership,” he said. “(She) is proving that women in welding don’t just follow paths, they are trailblazers. She has the potential to inspire more women to pursue a career in manufacturing.”
Gonzalez offered some advice for women who are thinking about a career in welding.
“For those who may doubt you, prove them wrong,” she said.
According to onetonline.org, welders, cutters, solderers and brazers earn a yearly median salary of $49,830 in Texas. The number of these jobs in the state was expected to increase by 11% between 2022 and 2032, according to the website.
Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.