Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – For Luis Salazar, a student in South Texas College’s Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) program, success isn’t about where you start – it’s about finding the courage to begin all over again.
After more than a decade working at a local water supply company, Luis Salazar knew he had reached his ceiling. Determined to create a better future for himself, the 39-year-old decided it was time to start over, so he took a leap of faith and returned to college for the first time in nearly two decades.
“I couldn’t move up any further, and I knew I wanted something more,” said Salazar, who is currently employed in the maintenance department at McAllen Medical Center while he earns his certificate in HVACR at STC. “When I started at the hospital, I began fixing air conditioning problems for patients. Being able to make someone’s day a little better, especially when they were uncomfortable, that made me feel good. That’s what motivated me to pursue this trade.”
Encouraged by his supervisors to continue learning, Salazar enrolled in the HVACR program in 2024 and says the experience so far has given him a second chance to grow both professionally and personally.
Balancing full-time work with school, Salazar credits both his upbringing and his commitment to hard work for helping him stay disciplined.
Before enrolling at STC, Salazar spent 12 years at Sharyland Water Supply, starting as a meter technician and working his way up to inspector. Despite earning multiple certifications, advancement opportunities eventually stalled. When he joined the maintenance department at a local hospital, he found a new calling.
“My dad taught me everything there is to know about construction,” he said. “I didn’t go to college right away. I went straight to work. I’ve always like building things and working with my hands, and I have my dad to thank for that.”
Now balancing work at the hospital with coursework at STC, Salazar said his approach to education mirrors the discipline he has carried throughout his career.
He now look ahead to completing his HVACR certificate this December and plans to return to STC for his associate degree, which focuses more on commercial systems.
“I have always been very dedicated and disciplined,” he said. “I take work seriously and do my best to complete it to the best of my ability. Now I plan to come back for my associate degree. Right now, the certificate focuses on residential work, but the associate dives deeper into commercial. That’s the kind of experience I need for where I want to go next.”
Reflecting on how far he has come in the last 20 years since he entered the workforce, Salazar admits that returning to college later in life hasn’t been easy, but the rewards have been worth it.
In reaching out to students facing similar challenges, Salazar says he hopes his journey proves that hard work and persistence can change the course of a career.
Now he hopes to continue gaining experience at the hospital while taking on side jobs, with the long-term goal of owning his own company.
“It’s never too late to start. You just have to stay focused, stay disciplined and put in the work,” Salazar said. “If anything, I regret not starting school earlier. Knowledge is power – it opens doors.”
For more information on STC’s HVACR program visit www.southtexascollege.edu/academics/hvacr/.
