Dallas College

Student Experience: Austin Brooks

“I actually first taught myself how to weld on YouTube because I’m always working on tons of projects, but when I got to the metal part I was lost. Then I realized I wasn’t very good at teaching myself, so I came to Mountain View to really learn how to weld. 

“Dewayne Roy is such a good teacher because he’s so hard on you and wants to teach you the right way to do things. You’ll think you’ll have done something really nice, but he just won’t accept it if it’s not done absolutely right. And that’s how you learn to do things well.

“The classes you learn in aren’t the ones you breeze by and get an A in. The classes where you really learn are the ones where you work your rear off to get a C, and the teacher makes you work for that C. 

“I’m deciding on whether to do an associate degree; my end goal is to transfer to a four-year university. I’m in the Criminal Justice program, still getting my basics out of the way, though I took some criminal justice courses in high school. 

“I’m taking welding for my own knowledge so that I can build what I want to and know how to handle the metal part of my construction projects. If I’m not in school or with my girlfriend, I’m in the garage working on something.”


Read More

Rodney Taylor

Rodney Taylor

Management Coordinator Prevost, a division of Volvo Group; Adjunct Faculty Diesel Maintenance Technician Program
“The labs I worked in at Dallas College had all of the latest equipment, and that’s what I learned on. I think that my advanced training is part of what helped me move up the career ladder; I just knew a lot more than most of my peers because of my training.”
Automotive Technology
Anthony Eaton

Anthony Eaton

Auto/Diesel Instructor Lincoln College of Technology
“My experience in both the Diesel and Automotive Tech programs was excellent. I got such a good background of updated technology in school, which I later found out put me ahead in the industry.”
Automotive Technology - Diesel and Heavy Equipment
Erick Flores-Ortega

Erick Flores-Ortega

CADD Student and STEM Ambassador
“Within different clubs like STEM, you find opportunities that could lead to a job or just a friendly face to talk about shared experiences. Having that community helps.”
Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)

Mike Walker

Supervisor of Mechanical Design Continental Electronics Corp.
“You should never stop learning in today’s world. If you do, you get left behind like the dinosaurs. Once you have knowledge, though, no one can take it away from you. The most important thing I learned is how to have the tools you need in today’s workforce.”
Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)
Austin Brooks
Austin Brooks
Full-Time Student
Welding
School of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology
Updated June 12, 2026