Crowley student balances work, classes to study Automotive Technology at TSTC
(WACO, Texas) – Brayan Plascencia, of Crowley, is an Automotive Technology student at Texas State Technical College. He is scheduled to graduate in December with a certificate of completion in Automotive Technician and continue on toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology at the Waco campus.
He commutes to and from classes and works three days a week at Castrol Premium Lube Express in Burleson. The California-born Plascencia is a fan of Dodge vehicles.
How did you become interested in automotive technology? When I was a kid, I was surrounded by cars that needed work to be done on them. Having to figure them out was the number one thing, but putting the parts back together without any manuals got my interest. My father took the welding route, even though he was the one to tell me how to work on cars and show me most of the things I know.
What factored into your coming to TSTC? I was in high school, and one day someone recommended TSTC. We drove down here, and I was drawn to it immediately. I was going to do welding because I was in FFA and I had just done it in high school and went to competitions. But, I eventually chose Automotive Technology.
TSTC’s Automotive Technology program recently received a contribution from the non-profit Community of Automotive Professionals, which runs the annual CarFest in San Antonio, through The TSTC Foundation. You received a scholarship from the financial gift. How has that money helped you in your studies? I know I need a lot of tools and know I would not get anywhere without them. Getting a scholarship that would let me get the tools and buy the equipment I needed was a weight off my shoulders. It just helped me a lot.
What do you enjoy about the Automotive Technology program? I like seeing how differently everyone has learned, especially people who are not likely the best to those who know everything because their parents taught them. I love being around that. It helps me know what I can do better and how I can get better.
What are your future career plans? I want to move up. I want to eventually move over to a mechanic shop or a dealership which is constantly getting new cars so I can learn about them.
In Automotive Technology, TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree, four certificates of completion, an advanced technical certificate in Automotive Tesla START Technician and an occupational skills award in Basic Automotive.
For more information, go to tstc.edu.
