Student Success Profile – Jonathan Collins

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Jonathan Collins is an Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics student at Texas State Technical College.

The 30-year-old spent five years in the Marines, with a deployment to Afghanistan before returning home to Harlingen.

The father of two expects to earn his associate degree this semester and is active on campus, serving as president of his program’s club and volunteering with TSTC’s Veterans Center.

What are your plans after graduation?

After I graduate, my family and I will be moving to Fort Worth; it’s a popular market for drafters and engineers. I will also look into enrolling at TSTC in North Texas to pursue an associate degree in Precision Machining Technology.

What’s your dream job?

With the degree I’m about to earn, there are so many career paths I can choose. Right now I’m interested in working in the Geographic Information System (GIS) path, but ultimately I hope to become a civil or mechanical engineer.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

My greatest accomplishment is being this close to finishing and finally earning my degree. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

The greatest lesson I have learned is that there is always room for improvement. I left the military with so much knowledge, but coming back to school has helped me realize that there’s still so much to learn.

Who at TSTC has had the most influence on your success?

All of my instructors have influenced my success. They all have industry experience and share that with us so we learn all aspects of the field. It’s encouraging to see how much they truly want us to succeed.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

My advice for future TSTC students is immerse yourself in your chosen field and career path. Get involved in learning it outside of the classroom by job shadowing or completing internships; it’s a game changer.