Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
For 16-year-old Mercedes High School junior Jamie Noriega, welding isn’t just a skill, it’s a way to shape her future.
As a dual credit student in South Texas College’s Welding program, she is discovering her passion, building confidence and laying the foundation for a career filled with opportunity.
“I want to keep doing welding and eventually earn my degree,” she said. “What really excites me about welding is that it can take you anywhere. I want to travel, see new places and work on different projects doing something I love.”
Noriega’s spark for welding was reignited the moment she joined STC’s Welding program, where supportive faculty members and hands-on learning reminded her why she loved the craft in the first place.
“I lost my passion for welding until I came to STC,” she said. “Instructors like Mr. Eliseo Cantu really changed that for me. He always tells me to show the boys how it’s done, and that pushes me to work harder and prove myself.”
Her journey has been fueled by resilience and the unwavering support of her family, especially her mother who has been her constant source of strength and motivation.
“My mom is one of my biggest supporters,” she said. “She always tells me, ‘So what if you’re a girl? You can do anything you set your mind to.’ Those words stay with me every time I pick up my welding torch.”
Initially drawn to mechanics, Noriega’s love for working with her hands started at home, long before she picked up a welding torch.
Growing up, she often helped her mom with repairs around the house and on their car. It was in those moments that her curiosity was sparked.
“Since I was little, I would help my mom fix stuff on the car – the lights, changing the oil, whatever needed to be done,” she said. “I didn’t realize it then, but those moments taught me a lot about hard work and problem-solving.”
Being in this program fills Noriega with pride, not only because she is pursuing something she loves, but because it represents hope for her family’s future. She dreams of giving back to the people who have supported her every step of the way and becoming the first in her family to earn a college degree.
“I want to give back to my family and get a good-paying job,” she said. “My mom is a single mom of six and is a hardworking woman and my biggest fan. Everything I’m doing is for her. I want to make her and my siblings proud and show them that they can do anything.”
With determination and grit, Noriega is breaking barriers and proving that passion and perseverance can forge any path even in a traditionally male-dominated field.
For more information on STC’s welding program, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/welding/#WELD-OSA.
Information source: STC
