(NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas) – To the untrained eye, a blueprint can look like a lot of lines that make no sense.
To those trained to seek the symbols for doors and electrical fixtures and interpret room dimensions, a blueprint can be a fun puzzle to decipher.
Blueprint reading is one of the first skills students learn in Texas State Technical College’s Building Construction program. It starts the process for students at the New Braunfels campus to earn a certificate of completion in Building Construction Technology – Craftsman.
“I think the main thing that I want students to know is that they can succeed in many areas of construction and that they shouldn’t limit themselves to only residential construction even though that is what our primary focus is for now,” said Josh Ritter, an instructor in TSTC’s Building Construction program at the New Braunfels campus.
Eric Kennedy, director of revenue and preconstruction strategy at SpawGlass Contractors, Inc. in New Braunfels, said the area construction industry faces a lack of skilled craft team members. He said the college’s industry-focused business model prioritizes the quality of students over the quantity.
Lance Pool Jr., of New Braunfels, is in his first semester in TSTC’s Building Construction program. He said coming from his homeschooled and cooperative background to TSTC has been an easy transition.
Pool said he has previous experience pouring concrete and using saws. He said he enjoyed the Field Engineering I class because he got to work with levels and tripods.
“I have always liked working with my hands and being outside,” Pool said. “I want to be active.”
Elias Garza, of San Antonio, is in his first semester in TSTC’s Building Construction program. He had some construction experience having taken classes at East Central High School in San Antonio.
Garza said the semester started slow for him, but the speed of what he is learning has now increased. He said he has enjoyed learning about blueprints.
“I want to land a job in the career field,” Garza said. “I know it won’t be six figures off the bat. I want to work for a company that treats me well.”
Spring registration continues at TSTC. For more information, go to tstc.edu.