(RED OAK, Texas) – Sergio Hernandez comes from a family of construction workers and has helped them since he was 12. But he knew he wanted to do something different.
He discovered that he had a natural talent in welding.
“I felt like it would set me on the right path because my goal is to have my own business,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez, originally from Comala, Mexico, enrolled in Texas State Technical College’s Welding program. Though the instructors push students to be their best, he said the class ultimately relies on personal responsibility to get the work done — something he appreciates.
“You can get more practice because welding, at the end of the day, is all practice,” Hernandez said. “Even if you’re really bad at it, after a lot of practice, you will get better.”
At the beginning of his second semester, Hernandez accepted a welding position with storage tank manufacturer Hughes Tank Company in Venus. He said receiving the job has been the most rewarding part of attending TSTC because it helps increase his confidence and skills.
“If I’m done welding here, then I also weld at work, sometimes I weld 10 or 12 hours straight,” he said.
Though Hernandez is still unsure what kind of business he wants to own, he is considering a production business or a certification business after Joaquin Rodriguez, one of his Welding instructors, suggested he study for a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification.
“I recommended that Sergio pursue his CWI after completing his associate degree because I believe he has the technical ability, attention to detail, and commitment to quality that are essential for a successful welding inspector,” Rodriguez said. “He is already a skilled welder, and earning his CWI would broaden his knowledge, open additional career opportunities, and allow him to make an even greater impact in the welding industry.”
Hernandez is on track to receive his certificate of completion in August. He will be returning to the North Texas campus in the fall to begin studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree.
“I can finally just do my own thing. I’m doing my own studies, and I’m doing my own job. I like that about TSTC,” he said.
Registration for the fall semester at TSTC is underway. For more information about TSTC, go to tstc.edu.