“Now, don’t stop.”
For most of his teenage years, Luis Sigala believed school wasn’t meant for him. Growing
up in Pecos, he was certain he would work in the oilfield just like his father, so
halfway through his senior year of high school, he dropped out and went straight to
work as a roustabout. His father hadn’t graduated high school either, and as Luis
stepped into the same company, he figured a diploma wasn’t necessary for the future
he envisioned.
But the oilfield didn’t go easy on him.
His father made sure of that.
His father made sure of that.
“He didn’t make anything easier for me,” Luis said. “Eventually he asked, ‘Is this
what you want to do for the next 20 years?’” That question stuck with him. For the
next decade, Luis worked long hours in the heat, the cold, and the unforgiving conditions
of contract labor. He grew more aware if he wanted a different future, he needed a
different path.
He applied to Chevron, drawn by the opportunities for advancement and long-term stability.
But when they saw he didn’t have his high school diploma, his application was rejected.
That “no” became a turning point.
Luis committed to earning his GED—but life didn’t slow down to make room for school.
He was working full time, married, and starting a family. Classes were hard to attend,
and the dream kept getting pushed aside. Still, he continued his contract work, and
six years later, he was hired by Chevron based on his strong performance and experience.
His supervisor’s message was clear:
“I need you to get your GED, though.”
This time, Luis was ready. With the unwavering encouragement of his wife, he enrolled
in GED classes and began chipping away at the coursework—after full workdays, on weekends,
and in every spare moment he could find.
“I had to make the time for it,” he said. “I needed my GED for myself and for my kids.
My 10-year-old son asked me if I graduated from high school. I wanted to set a good
example for him—he knew my wife had, and she even completed her associate and bachelor’s
degrees.”
The reading portions were the toughest for him, but Luis refused to quit. Slowly,
steadily, he improved.
In November 2024, his dedication was rewarded when he was promoted to production specialist—a
role that took him out of the field and into a high-tech control environment. Now,
he works alongside a team of specialists, monitoring the activity of Chevron sites
across the Permian Basin using advanced software tools on 13 different computer monitors.
“I love what I do. Chevron trained me for this,” he said.
A year later, in October, Luis took his final GED test. When the results arrived,
he was at home.
“I passed! I was jumping up and down and laughing. I called my wife—she started crying.
We were so happy. I finally finished it.”
Today, his GED certificate hangs proudly by the front door.
“I look at it and smile every morning as I go to work,” he said. “It means so much
to me.”
Luis now has his sights set on a leadership or supervisor role at Chevron. With every
step forward, he hears the voices that kept him going—his wife, his supervisor, and
his own inner resolve reminding him:
“Don’t stop. Get your associate’s degree now.”