Justine Carranza’s journey to Texas State Technical College (TSTC) was inspired by her childhood experiences working with horses and a desire to build custom horse trailers. After years of woodworking and raising a family, she pursued welding at TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus to gain the skills needed for trailer fabrication and repair. Now in her second semester, Carranza has mastered challenging techniques like overhead welding, demonstrating strong attention to detail and dedication.

Her instructor, Russell Bradshaw, praises her ability to apply feedback and predicts a bright future in welding. Carranza sees her education as a way to inspire her children to develop their own skills and persevere in their goals, emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning and determination.