Discover Our Students’ Experiences Through Their Own Words: Stephanie Gutierrez

“When I first started college, I wanted to be a head chef at a restaurant. After being in school, I changed my mind. I then had a drive to be a caterer.

"I want to be my own boss and have my own kind of business. 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. The competitions are massive, and they teach the job skills that will help me in the real world. When you’re involved with SkillsUSA, it feels like a family. I first joined because I just wanted friends, but I didn’t know that it would teach me so much. I’ve developed workplace skills, personal skills and technical skills grounded in academics.

"You get to learn how to be, like, a genuine person and have integrity because you’re learning about yourself by being pushed out of your comfort zone.

"Growing up, my mom told me, ‘If you do tasks at 95% and have that 5% left unfinished, what’s the point?’ So, every single thing I do, I give it 100%.

"My mom means everything to me. I take her advice to heart.

"Going into the culinary field, I work at a really nice restaurant. I get to cook for, like, really famous clients, like Mark Cuban. I made sushi for him and the Dallas Mavericks. I also got to cook for the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I get to do really cool stuff for my job using my CTE, career and technical education. When I get home to Dallas, I’m going to celebrate our accomplishments by making fresh pasta. Ravioli with ricotta and pesto, plus Parmesan cheese on top.”

Stephanie poses with Mark Cuban after he visited her restaurant.

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