(RED OAK, Texas) – Rachel Stem-Goolsby changed her major several times before deciding what to pursue.
“I took a few business classes right before I realized I wanted to actually do something that I liked to do, which was drawing,” the DeSoto native said. “I looked at all sorts of schools for architecture and I ended up finding Texas State Technical College, which was much cheaper.”
Stem-Goolsby enrolled in the Drafting and Design program at TSTC’s North Texas campus. She chose to focus on Architectural/Civil Drafting Technology, where she quickly made friends with the other students.
“We always had fun doing the assignments together and helping each other out,” Stem-Goolsby said. “As we progressed, we helped the people that were just coming in, so that was fun. We got to help while we were still learning.”
Tyson Skinner was one of Stem-Goolsby’s Drafting and Design instructors.
“From day one, Rachel always put in more effort than we expected,” Skinner said. “When we asked for a very basic model in those introductory courses, she would begin putting in the level of effort and consideration that we expect from students a year into our program. She was never one to give the bare minimum.”
In her final semester at TSTC, Stem-Goolsby accepted an internship with structural engineering firm Datum Engineers at their Dallas location. After she received her Associate of Applied Science degree in spring 2025, she transitioned into a full-time role as a structural technician for the company.
Archie Grigsby, the senior associate BIM (building information modeling) manager at Datum Engineers, is Stem-Goolsby’s supervisor and a fellow TSTC Drafting and Design graduate. He said that Stem-Goolsby is a faster learner.
“She’s definitely sure of her skills, but she wants to make sure that in whatever work that she’s (doing), she’s on the right path and getting it correct,” Grigsby said.
Stem-Goolsby said she enjoys all of the new projects her job offers and going on site visits to see her work come alive. She has no plans to leave Datum Engineers.
“Maybe within the next five years I can be teaching a new intern or somebody new,” Stem-Goolsby said.
According to onetonline.org, architectural and civil drafters earn a median salary of $61,530 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 13 percent between 2022 and 2032.
Drafting and Design is available at TSTC’s Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas and Waco campuses, as well as online. Several associate degrees and certificates of completion are offered, depending on location.
For more information, go to tstc.edu.