(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For Humberto Martinez, dedication is in every mile he travels between Brownsville and Harlingen.
For a majority of Martinez’s time at Texas State Technical College, his alarm is set for 5 a.m. to begin his day on a bus ride to Harlingen. He returned home to Brownsville via bus as well. Martinez bought a truck in the early summer and uses it on occasion to make the trip.
“When (the truck) is parked, I look at it and I am just happy,” he said.
Martinez is a graduate of Lopez Early College High School in Brownsville. He competed in SkillsUSA’s Cabinetmaking contest during his junior and senior years in high school. He learned about TSTC through the SkillsUSA district contests he took part in.
“During my senior year, I placed third in the district,” Martinez said. “I was glad I had improved on my own, and now that I am at TSTC, I have improved a whole lot more than expected.”
Martinez is about to complete his third semester in the Building Construction program.
“I was thinking of going straight into the construction field,” he said. “But I wanted an education, and I did not want to do it for four years.”
Martinez returned to the SkillsUSA venue earlier this year and won the gold medal in Cabinetmaking at the state event in Corpus Christi.
“My instructor told me I looked nervous, but I really wanted to win,” he said. “I was hungry for it. When I was there, I was looking at my competition and being more aware of my surroundings. I felt pretty good about my project, but there are things I could have done differently.”
At the national SkillsUSA event, Martinez described several different emotions he went through.
“I was under pressure,” he said. “I should have double-checked my materials. I think it was a good cabinet and it was fun.”
He does all of his work perfecting his skills in the program’s working lab. Martinez said he has built projects for some of his instructors, including a small cutting board.
“I feel like I am in my own little world,” he said. “I get to build something and be active. I am alone with my thoughts. I like looking at something from scraps and building something with it.”
Kimberly Mireles, a classmate of Martinez who is pursuing an associate degree in the program, has known him since high school.
“Humberto’s discipline and dedication inspire myself and our other classmates to improve our skills,” the Brownsville native said.
Alfredo Martinez, an instructor in the program, said Martinez is always willing to lend a hand whenever faculty members need assistance.
“That speaks volumes about Humberto’s work ethic,” he said. “(He) has the qualities that will make him an asset to any employer.”
After graduating from TSTC, Martinez said he wants to pursue the leadership side of the construction field, but still continue to build custom cabinets.
Registration for the fall semester is underway at TSTC. The fall semester begins on Tuesday, Sept. 8. For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.