(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Aaron Munoz, an Automotive Technology student pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree at Texas State Technical College, is fine-tuning his auto repair skills as a lube technician at Gillman Honda in San Benito, with his sights set on opening his own automotive business venture someday.
“I’ve been working part time at Gillman Honda for a month,” Munoz said. “I do tasks such as an oil change, a transmission flush, replacing an air filter, wiper blades, and other requests.”
Jose Martinez is a service advisor for Gillman Honda.
“Aaron is a proactive employee who takes initiative in the shop area,” he said.
Munoz said an important automotive lesson he has learned is to be open-minded.
“At work, the experienced lube technicians are teaching me more effective ways to do the job,” the Donna native said. “At TSTC, the instructors have increased my knowledge about automobiles and the components that keep a vehicle running.”
Rosendo Rodriguez is one of Munoz’s instructors at TSTC.
“Aaron is punctual and has matured in his work ethic and confidence,” he said. “It’s a quality that automotive employers will look for.”
Munoz said TSTC and his job have broadened his perspective on his future career.
“The knowledge I’m continuing to gain will benefit me in the workforce and eventually with the services that I want to offer in my future business,” he said.
The website onetonline.org projected that there would be 7,490 annual job openings in Texas for automotive service technicians and mechanics from 2022 to 2032.
In Automotive Technology, TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and several certificates of completion at the Harlingen, Sweetwater and Waco campuses. The program will be available at the Fort Bend County campus this fall.
Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.