(RED OAK, Texas) – U.S. Army veteran David Eastep, of Crandall, was hesitant to get his college degree, until he took a fellow veteran’s advice and enrolled at Texas State Technical College.
“He started going to school here and was telling me about it,” Eastep said. “I came up and talked to an enrollment coach one day, and three months later I was in school. I thought it was going to be kind of weird as a 38-year-old guy trying to come back to school, but it wasn’t bad at all.”
Eastep said his family has always worked in the mechanical industry, which led him to enroll in the Diesel Equipment program.
“The hands-on training is absolutely amazing,” Eastep said. “When you can’t figure it out, your instructors actually come and help you out.”
Eric Wheeler, a Diesel Equipment instructor, said Eastep’s skills not only benefit himself, but other students. He often looks for those in his class who want to learn, but are struggling to understand the material. Wheeler said that is when Eastep goes out of his way to help his classmates.
“He’s a good influence on the guys, kind of like a big brother,” Wheeler said.
Eastep is interested in pursuing a career with a construction and engineering company. He also hopes to open his own repair shop one day. He said his son is interested in attending TSTC as well.
TSTC’s Diesel Equipment program is available at the Abilene, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas, Sweetwater and Waco campuses. The program offers several associate degrees and certificates of completion.
Registration for the fall semester at TSTC is underway. For more information about TSTC, go to tstc.edu.