Discover Our Students’ Experiences Through Their Own Words: Oscar Vela II

“In my junior year of high school, I was lucky enough to figure out what I wanted to do, since I was taking dual credit courses. With the help of a guidance counselor at my school, I earned a scholarship to be able to follow Visual Communications as a career at Brookhaven.

“I got a great education — the faculty are knowledgeable, and I learned a lot about interviewing and portfolios. I learned how to create artwork that would be presentable in the business world, and I had a lot of mentors to help me along the way. I would always take my work to them and ask if it would be a good prospect in the real world. I could go to Lauri Collins or Jerry Hill — really the whole faculty — and they would tell me what I could do to improve my work; I guess I’m a perfectionist.

“The best part of the program’s environment is that it’s creative but businesslike. I love what I do, so even though my classwork was challenging and I was learning a lot, I enjoyed it so much that it didn’t seem like work.

“This career is a good fit for me. It’s a good path for people like me who want to express themselves artistically but also want to have a good career opportunity in the business world. I would highly recommend Brookhaven’s program, and I think the whole career field will really grow over the next decade.” In his job as a graphic designer at Vision Printing in Duncanville, Oscar Vela designs logos, advertisements, printed business cards, letterhead, postcards and mailouts, also helping to design the monthly coupon book for local clients.

He earned a Visual Communications certificate from Brookhaven in December 2007 and a Visual Communications associate degree and enhanced skills certificate in May 2008.

A student with a red jacket poses for a photo in a downtown setting

Stephanie Gutierrez

Culinary Student

“At El Centro’s Culinary and Hospitality Institute, I’m learning how to plan a menu and use time management in the kitchen. Now with SkillsUSA, it’s teaching me to get where I want to go.”

Culinary and Pastry Arts

Albert Pantoja III

Senior Accountant American Home Mortgage Servicing

“My experience was really good; I learned a lot about different types of loans, underwriting and loan origination. The program gave us a broad overview from the get-go. I didn’t have any previous experience in mortgage banking at all, so it really helped me to prepare for changing jobs into the industry.”

Banking and Finance

Tammy White

Project Manager Verizon Telecom

“The most important thing I learned in my education was a sense of accomplishment and purpose, and that nothing is impossible as long as I am willing to expend the effort to reach my goals. I have been promoted a number of times in recent years, into positions of more and more responsibility as a direct result of my education.”

Business, Business and Management