(FORT BEND) – Billy Ruiz, 37, from Rosenberg is a student at Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County working toward a certificate in Precision Machining Technology. He expects to graduate in August 2016.

What are your plans after graduation?

I want to find a job in the machining industry as an operator. I would like to work for Schlumberger, but I know there are also a lot of opportunities outside of the oil industry. We’ll see what the future holds.

What’s your dream job?

My ultimate dream job is to be a machine programmer. I want to be able to produce a blue print and install the program onto a machine to create a part.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

Everything I’m learning is so new to me. I’ve never done anything like this before, so being able to handle the workload and becoming familiar with the equipment in machining is a huge accomplishment for me.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

I have learned that if I stay focused on my classes that I can get through them. Being focused can get you through a number of challenges.

Name a TSTC person who most influenced your success?

The person with the most influence in my success at TSTC is Mr. Michael Barnes. He is the man who took the time to explain the program to me, he introduced me to everything. He is full of great advice and always looking for bigger and better opportunities for his students.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

There are several things I would like to tell future TSTC students. First, do a lot of research on the field you want to study and see if it is right for you. You don’t want to end up picking a field you are not going to be happy with. Second, stay strong, focused and inspired.