Gil achieves career success by remaining persistent
By providing students with hands-on experience alongside their academic studies, the San Jacinto College EDGE Center and Intuitive Machines are empowering the next generation of leaders in the aerospace and space exploration sectors.
Working at Intuitive Machines at the Houston Spaceport is a job Oscar Gil never thought would happen after spending nearly a decade pursuing his education.
"Everyone plans for four years, maybe five at most, but when things don't go as expected, you have to adjust,” Gil said. “You really don't know what's going to happen next.”
In 2017, Gil was an engineering student at the University of Houston. Unfortunately, a low GPA led to his suspension from the program, causing a chain of academic setbacks.
"At times, it was hard to rely on myself to keep going,” he said. “I persisted by drawing strength from a lot of prayer and faith.”
Desperate to stay connected to engineering, Gil discovered San Jacinto College's Toyota T-TEN program, which provided a gateway into automotive technology and an invaluable internship as a master technician apprentice. Determined to earn his bachelor's degree, he returned to UH, switching to math with a physics minor. Securing an engineering job after graduation in 2021 amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging, prompting him to explore aviation mechanics.
Once again, this led Gil back to San Jacinto College, where the aerospace technician program at the EDGE Center offered a flexible, affordable online option. A few months into his training, a chance encounter with Intuitive Machines representatives, facilitated by the College’s former aerospace education director Dr. Janis Fowler, led to an unexpected job offer, eventually evolving into a full-time position.
Reflecting on my journey, I realize every setback, from academic struggles to career transitions, laid the groundwork for my current role at Intuitive Machines. As I mark two years with the company, the initial thrill has transformed into a sense of purpose, reinforced by the pride of my family and the meaningful impact of our work.
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About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than 1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately 45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s.
