(MARSHALL, Texas) – When her younger brothers both graduated from college, Karla Sanchez decided she did not want to be the only one without a degree.
“I worked at a restaurant, and then I was an office assistant for my dad at his business,” Sanchez said. “I’ve tried college two times already — back then I was 19 and 20. It wasn’t for me yet, and now that I’m more mature I feel like I can do this.”
Sanchez originally considered the automotive industry but was drawn to Texas State Technical College’s Automation and Controls Technology program, which is offered exclusively at the Marshall campus.
After starting classes in the program, Sanchez quickly discovered that overcoming her fears would be her greatest challenge.
“The first day of school, I went to the classroom and saw they were all guys,” Sanchez said. “At first I was a little bit insecure and intimidated, but I still didn’t let that stop me. I’ve learned that it’s all about skills, it’s not about gender, so that motivated me enough to stay.”
Sanchez balances her time between her education and a full-time job to provide for her two children. She wants to be someone they can look up to and hopes they will choose to attend TSTC in the future.
“I did bring one of my sons to the classroom, and he saw the environment and said that it was neat,” Sanchez said. “I’m glad he’s opening his eyes to opportunities out there.”
Douglas Clark, an Automation and Controls Technology instructor at TSTC’s Marshall campus, has watched Sanchez progress from someone who was unsure of herself to someone with dedication and drive for a better life.
“I can’t say enough about Karla Sanchez,” he said. “She epitomizes the term perseverance. Karla is the perfect role model to empower women to enter this occupation. She has made a commitment to better herself for her and her two teenage boys.”
Sanchez plans to graduate with her Associate of Applied Science degree in May 2026.
“I feel thankful, and (TSTC) means an opportunity to do something with my life,” Sanchez said. “I want females to not be scared to go into the programs, and if they see that it’s a male-dominated field, to not let that discourage them.”
According to onetonline.org, robotics technicians earn a median salary of $64,450 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 4% between 2022 and 2032.
Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.