Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – When Jonathan Gutierrez enrolled in a dual credit class through South Texas College, he didn’t expect it to change the course of his life.
But now, influenced early on into the trades by his father, who worked in the oil fields, Gutierrez said a drive to succeed continues to push him towards new goals through STC’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) program.
At just 17, the senior at Weslaco East High School, is currently on track to earn his high school diploma as well as his associate degree in Precision Manufacturing Technology at the Joe Calvillo Jr. Career and Technology Education Complex in Weslaco.
Reflecting on his work so far, Gutierrez said the impending achievement has opened his eyes to a career he never even realized. What started as a curiosity, quickly became a passion, he said.
“I was thinking of going into Cybersecurity at first, but since that program was at another campus, I went for manufacturing because I really didn’t know what it was—I just wanted to learn something new,” Gutierrez said. “Now, here I am reading blueprints, using precision tools and understanding the safety aspects of a shop. I never knew this was a thing until now, but it really brought out my creativity.”
Gutierrez said beginning his studies early gave him a head start on his future. Faculty at STC have made it within reach to master advanced Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machining and help him to eventually pursue an engineering degree.
With graduation in sight, he plans to seek an internship after graduation or continue his education at Texas A&M University, exploring ways to turn his hands-on talent into a higher- level degree.
“I started early in my high school career learning how to use a manual lathe and mill because I wanted to learn something useful. I wanted to gain skills so I could become a better worker and make something of myself,” Gutierrez said. “Now I’m working with 3-axis CNC machines and I’m working hard to learn 5-axis machining. It’s complicated, but it gets my mind going. It’s like a puzzle that I want to solve.”
Looking back, Gutierrez said the AMT program helped him not only discover a skill, but a sense of purpose—that is something he hopes other students who are following in his footsteps realize.
“You have to follow your heart. Sometimes your plans change and that’s ok. You have to go with it because that change might lead you to something better,” he said. “For me, it just clicked. Now when I read blueprints and see how everything comes together, I feel like I’m connected to it all. It’s like I’m meant to be doing this.”
For more information on STC’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology program visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/manufacturing/.
Information Source: STC
