(RED OAK, Texas) – Aiden Ochoa was already a skilled diesel mechanic in high school. He won several competitions and secured an internship with Kirby-Smith Machinery, a heavy equipment and crane distributor, at its Dallas location.
“I worked there for two years in high school, then following that they wanted to keep me on as an intern, but for college, so I (enrolled at) Texas State Technical College,” he said.
Ochoa, of Cedar Hill, enrolled in the Diesel Equipment program at TSTC’s North Texas campus. He said the program’s curriculum helps him stay organized, while the lab sessions complement his work for Kirby-Smith Machinery.
“The most rewarding part is seeing how much I can learn and seeing what else I don’t know so I can work on that,” Ochoa said.
Eric Wheeler is one of Ochoa’s Diesel Equipment instructors.
“Aiden shows leadership skills while working with other students, solving problems, and guiding or motivating a group toward a common goal,” Wheeler said. “He shows strategic thinking, clear communication, and the capacity to adapt to changing situations.”
Ochoa’s employers allow him tuition reimbursement and a flexible schedule to complete his education. He said he enjoys working on some of the same equipment that the public sees on the road every day.
“The most rewarding part of my job would be seeing the final product, seeing something that’s very challenging that not everybody can do, and seeing that you’ve accomplished it,” Ochoa said.
Ochoa plans to receive his Associate of Applied Science degree from TSTC this December. He said he will transfer to a full-time position with Kirby-Smith Machinery upon graduation.
“What makes me the most proud is how far I’ve gone within such a short time,” Ochoa said. “I’m turning 20 this month, and I’m at places where most 20-year-olds dream they would be.”
According to onetonline.org, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn a median salary of $57,870 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 13% between 2022 and 2032.
In addition to North Texas, Diesel Equipment is offered at TSTC’s Abilene, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, Sweetwater and Waco campuses. The program offers several associate degrees and certificates of completion, depending on location.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.