Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
At just 18 years old, Diego Cantu is already forging a path to a high-demand career in the welding industry.
A graduate of Preparatory for Early College High School in Rio Grande City, he began the Welding program at South Texas College as a sophomore in 2023 and is on track to complete it by December 2025.
Cantu says his decision to pursue welding was inspired by both practical goals and family influence.
“I chose welding because it’s a career where you can earn a good living, especially if you’re willing to put in the work and move up,” he said. “I also have family in the industry and hearing about the opportunities they have, made me realize it was something I could do too.”
While the path has been rigorous, with classes running from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, Cantu credits the program with instilling vital life and workforce skills like discipline and time management.
“This program is preparing us for the workforce by teaching us valuable skills we’ll need for our job,” he said. “We’re not just learning how to weld—we’re learning how to work under pressure, follow safety procedures and use different welding techniques that are actually used in the field. I feel like I’ve gained the confidence to walk into a job site and know what I’m doing. I’m almost ready to break out into the real world in about a month or two, and I’m excited to finally apply what I’ve learned in the field.”
Cantu also highlights the impact of Welding faculty members Isaac Torres and Victor Montalvo, who he says go above and beyond to support students, not just as learners, but as future professionals.
“They show that they want the best for us and encourage us to keep practicing,” he said. “They take the time to explain things thoroughly and work with you one-on-one if you’re struggling. You can tell they genuinely care about helping us succeed, not just in class, but in our careers.”
Coming in with only a basic understanding of welding, Cantu approached the program with determination and an open mind, quickly realizing just how much there was to learn.
“My main challenge was not knowing too much about welding other than what my family would tell me,” he said. “At first, it was intimidating because I didn’t have the hands-on experience, but my professors were patient and supportive. They guided me through the process, showed me how to do my own research and encouraged me to keep practicing until it clicked.”
Motivated by his family and driven by a vision for the future, Cantu hopes to one day leave the Rio Grande Valley and become a welding foreman in the gas industry.
Cantu emphasizes the importance of commitment and effort to those interested in joining the program.
“If you’re going to start it, you need to give it your all,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of people join thinking it’s going to be easy or that they can just coast through it. Welding takes focus, patience and a lot of practice. If you’re not fully invested, you’re not going to get much out of it and you’ll just end up wasting your time. But if you show up ready to learn and put in the work, it can open a lot of doors. It’s not just about passing the class—it’s about preparing for a real career.”
For more information on STC’s Welding program, visit: https://www.southtexascollege.edu/academics/welding/.
Information source: STC
