Meet a young technician: Luis Andrade

Luis Andrade embodies resilience. This 18-year-old welding student from Rouse High School has faced significant challenges but remains focused on building a career that will make his parents proud.

Vehicle Service Pros is partnering with TechForce Foundation to share profiles and perspectives of young automotive technicians who are in the early days of their careers. These students were asked: "What is one skill you would like to master?"

"I've never had a rich or comfortable family. Growing up I quickly realized how much harder I would have to work to get to where I needed to be in life compared to those around me," he says. "A middle child with divorced parents who have no communication or relation of any kind isn't ideal."

His path to welding wasn't immediate. "It wasn't until my sophomore year of high school after having taken two years of welding classes that I realized I wanted to be a blue collar worker."

Now in his final year, Andrade has mastered multiple welding processes. "I've learned the main three processes of welding including TIG, MIG, and SMAW. I've created many carts, gates, welding stands. I've participated in welding competitions at county, and have even gone and worked for a state company for a day in their industrial welding shop.

"Growing up the way I did never put me down because I grew up learning to find the comfort in discomfort, as my mom would tell me. I work hard because my mom did. Because my dad does."

He has clear plans ahead. "I plan on going to TSTC (Texas State Technical College) to take structural welding and pipe welding courses to earn my certificates and associates. After that I'm due contracts in south Texas and up in Oklahoma."

His deeper motivation reveals his character. "If you were to ask me why I want to weld or why I want to compete for these tools I'll probably say it's because I want it. But deep down, what I'll mean to say is that I want to make my parents proud."

Andrade's work embodies his strength: "When you read this don't see it as my hardship or as a beg for relief, but see it as a symbol of resilience and strength. Determination is what fuels my need to succeed.

"I study extensively in class, pay close attention when welding instructors come" and he says he never gives a half-hearted effort.