Passion to Profession: Dallas College Students Step Into New Careers

May 20, 2026

Dallas College serves many nontraditional students who balance full-time jobs, family responsibilities or both, while working toward their next chapter. Their resilience keeps them moving forward. This spring, many are celebrating major milestones, completing their studies and launching new careers.

Rosemary Pate and Xinglei Hu took very different paths to Dallas College, and both are starting promising futures. Pate recently earned her Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts, while Hu will earn an Associate of Science in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology.

Stepping Up and Leaning In

Pate was working as a server in an assisted living facility when she first took an interest in food preparation. “I became good friends with the cook, and I told him I wanted to learn,” said Pate.

She soon began helping in the kitchen. Then, when the cook left unexpectedly, Pate stepped up to manage the kitchen. That experience confirmed her  decision to enroll in culinary studies at Dallas College.

On May 16, she received her degree, an accomplishment she is especially proud of after balancing four years of working full-time and even taking a semester off to get married.

“Anytime somebody asks about the culinary field, I immediately recommend Dallas College. I just love the chefs, the curriculum and everything,” she said.

Beyond technical skills, Pate said the experience helped her grow in unexpected ways.

“I was really shy before coming here,” she explained. “It has changed me by not only making me more confident in my skills but also in meeting new people and networking.”

Pate became involved with the workforce development organization SkillsUSA, which she describes as life changing. She heard about the competition in class during her second year and decided to participate. That first year, Pate won a bronze medal in Job Demonstration at the national competition and has since earned seven additional awards.

Seeing an opportunity to improve student organization and leadership, Pate stepped into the role of Dallas College’s SkillsUSA president.

“My friend Ruth and I started planning the meetings and developing a timeline to prepare for competitions each semester,” she said. Through this work, she gained valuable organization and event planning experience, skills that will serve her well in the food industry.

Pate is currently working at The Sicilian Butcher, where she was recently promoted from prep cook to line cook. The job is providing her with hands-on restaurant experience essential for advancing in her field.

“My big dream is to become a culinary director at an assisted living facility. That’s where I first fell in love with cooking. I love adding creativity and personalized touches for the residents, and I love learning their stories,” said Pate.

“Some people like the rush of a restaurant,” she explained, but Pate prefers the structured environment of an assisted living facility. Plus, it will provide predictable hours when she gets ready to start a family.

“I'm appreciative of what Dallas College has done for me,” she said. “I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for stepping into this program and working within this field.”

While Pate was heating up the kitchen, Hu was learning how to keep cool.

Keeping Cool

Hu has always liked fixing things and working with tools. His pay and satisfaction with his job as a car salesman weren’t great. He felt he needed to do something else.

He knew very little about the HVAC repair industry when he began the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology program two years ago.

“Because we are living in Texas it is super hot and when our air conditioners go out, we all go crazy,” he explained. “I thought this was a field where I could make money and help people.”

 In April, he landed a job that he describes as beyond his imagination.

He is working as a junior technician for RdRc Mechanical Service doing commercial repair. He was surprised and excited to move directly into commercial work rather than starting in residential service.

“When we change one compressor it’s about 1,200 pounds and it takes like six people and a crane!” he said.

“Before I went to Dallas College, all I knew about was going into someone’s home to repair their AC. At Dallas College, I realized I could go into commercial work at warehouses, airports or hospitals with huge AC units or water-cooling systems,” said Hu.

“The lab at Dallas College was fantastic,” he said. “There are so many systems, and we practiced everything there first, like welding copper tubing. That made a big difference. When I got to a job site, I already knew a lot.”

Hu will complete his final practicum course for his degree by checking in with his instructor during his next few months while continuing to build experience on the job. His long-term goals include becoming a senior tech and eventually moving into more advanced areas like building automation or water chiller systems.

Pate and Hu represent the determination of Dallas College students who return to school to build better futures. Their stories reflect more than career changes; they show personal growth, resilience and the power of opportunity.

For both, the classroom is only the beginning.

 

• Career and Transfer