Building welding skills through leadership and service

Melvin Gloria discovered his passion for welding at an early age by watching his father work in the industry. Now, he plans to become a pipeline welder after he graduates this fall with his associate degree in Welding from South Texas College.

In addition to Welding, Gloria has recently also discovered an interest in wood working thanks to a project he had the opportunity work on with the Student Government Association, where he helped build a picnic table from the bottom up. This experience, he said, had a strong impact on him. He said he didn’t realize he was capable of doing that kind of work.

“I only planned on doing Welding, but I’ve been working with wood and in construction, especially through this project. I made a picnic table,” he said. “I didn’t really know I could make that.”

In addition to school, Gloria is also involved on campus in different extracurricular activities, including SGA within the department of Student Activities and Wellness, rising through the ranks now serving as parliamentarian and he volunteers at the college’s student food pantry.

Gloria said his interest in getting involved on campus came from seeing a previous SGA officer in action. He recalled how the officer would talk to students and genuinely cared about what needed to be improved around campus, which inspired him to participate.

“I saw the previous officer running for SGA, and I respected the way he would talk to us and cared about improving things,” he said. “It got me interested to do it.”

He also credits his STC Academic Advisor Robert Alanis, for encouraging him to take advantage of the opportunities around him. Gloria said that traveling with the college as a student leader and being active around campus helped him step outside his comfort zone.

His advice for incoming students is to join campus organizations and be more open to new opportunities.

“Go beyond your comfort zone and join new clubs,” Gloria said. “You never know what might come from it.”