I am interested in a career as an automotive repair technician because it is a job that I love. I have always struggled in traditional learning environments, ending up bored and uninterested in the topics, but the trades are something that have always captivated my attention. I have spent hundreds of hours on general topics like English and Mathematics, but I would rather spend eight hours struggling to replace a CV axle, getting scratched and dirty, over one hour of AP Calculus.
My family has owned snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, and they all break eventually. Whether it's just a simple line coming loose or being flooded from going into a lake, any motorized vehicle needs maintenance over its lifetime. Fortunately for me, mechanics is something that runs in my family. My great uncle has owned a shop for decades, my grandfather has built cars from the ground up for Back to the 50s, and my mother is a Mechanical Engineer. Needless to say, I have been exposed to mechanics my whole life, and that has led to me doing a lot of needed maintenance right at home.
Being a repair technician is not an easy job by any means. I have done jobs that take twice the advised time just because a car has one bolt in an unusual place, or because I was working with someone who wasn't familiar with the work. But I know that the payoff and rewarding feeling of completing a project is worth it every time. That perseverance is incredibly important to a technician. Not every job is going to go by the book. I'd argue that, more often than not, things go wrong because of the nature of the work. So, when one bolt breaking causes an hour-long setback it's important to stay focused, stay calm, and to keep with it.
Along with a need to persevere through the difficult, a technician needs to be incredibly detail oriented. There are no cutting corners when the cost could be someone's life. Many issues on a vehicle are harmless, but if a technician decides to cut corners when putting on a tire, and their client proceeds to lose a wheel going 70 mph down the freeway, then the cost could be a lot more than a new bolt. That is why I believe that a technician needs to present in every moment when repairing a vehicle.
Finally, a technician needs to be prepared. When they receive a vehicle to work on, they need to have all the correct tools and parts so that they can perform their work to the best of their abilities. They also need to be prepared mentally. Not every day is going to be a good one, and not every job is going to be fun, but that doesn't mean they can choose to cut corners. A technician's job requires trust. The client needs to trust that even when the technician is having a bad day their work will not be compromised, and that every single job will be done the right way, with focus.
Ever since I was little, I have been around cars and hot rods. My grandpa lived close to where I grew up, so during the summer, my dad, grandpa, and I would often go to car shows just for something to do. Although I wasn't working on cars back then, it quickly became something that interested me. My dad and I also watched Gearz and Trucks! with Stacey David, which made me like cars even more.
When I started high school, I was not sure what I wanted to do afterward. I discovered an after-school automotive club that met twice a week and decided to attend as often as possible. When I signed up for classes, I didn't realize there were actual automotive classes, so the club was the next best option. After the first day, I knew this was something I could do for the rest of my life. We were already working on smaller projects that first day, and that got me hooked right away.
Being around cars when I was younger and joining the Auto Club got me started, but that is not the main reason I want a career in automotive repair. After learning as much as I could during my sophomore year, I decided to take on a project of my own during my junior year. I bought a truck with money I had saved from working and towed it home because it did not run. I replaced the fuel pump, got it running, and drove it to the school shop to continue the work. It ended up needing more repairs than I expected, but I am glad it did. I rebuilt most of the suspension, upgraded the rear axle with a locking differential, wired a custom stereo, and went through the rest of the truck to make sure everything was right. That project taught me patience, problem-solving, and how rewarding it feels to bring something back to life.
Fixing cars is fun, but helping others with their cars is even more enjoyable. During my senior year, I took upper-level automotive classes where seniors could take on bigger projects. Some of those projects included manual swapping a 1998 Pontiac Firebird, getting a 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix running again after sitting for years, V6 swapping a 1991 Toyota MR2 with a custom wiring harness, and swapping multiple engines and transmissions in a 1968 Buick Special. Working with my classmates on these projects showed me how much I enjoy both the technical side of the job and the teamwork that comes with it.
I believe a good automotive repair technician needs three main qualities: attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and a strong work ethic. Attention to detail is crucial because modern vehicles are complex, and even a small mistake can cause big problems. Problem-solving skills matter because things rarely go as planned when working on cars. Being able to think through issues and adapt is what makes a good technician. Finally, work ethic ties it all together. The automotive field is demanding and competitive, and if a technician does not show up ready to work hard and stay consistent, they will not last long.
Automotive repair combines everything I enjoy: working with my hands, solving problems, and helping others. It is not just about fixing cars; it is about doing something that matters and taking pride in doing it right. I am excited to keep learning, improving, and building a career doing something I truly care about.
Ever since I was first introduced to collision repair in high school, I thought it was just an elective that wasn't important to me. It was something I didn’t think I wanted to build my future around. At the time, I simply enjoyed working with my hands and seeing the results of my work. I liked the pride of taking something damaged and slowly bringing it back to life. But as I kept learning, taking on more challenging projects, and gaining experience, I realized that this is more than a hobby. It became obvious that collision repair is a career where I can grow, push myself, and create something significant every day.
The classroom gave me a foundation, but the shop is where I really discovered what this career meant to me. I wasn’t just learning from books; I was sanding panels, spraying paint, and figuring out how to repair a panel. Every repair taught me that every step matters. My mentor had a huge influence on determining the way I see this career. He didn’t just show me the steps; he guided me on how to think like a skilled technician. He showed me different approaches to the same repair, explained why quality mattered more than speed, and reminded me that no matter what, the car that leaves the shop carries my name with it. Those lessons gave me more than skills; they gave me confidence and pride in the kind of technician I want to become.
From my experience, I believe that a successful collision repair technician should be patient, detail-oriented, adaptable, and willing to learn from mistakes. Patience is necessary because repairs can require hours of preparation to make sure everything fits and finishes correctly. Attention to detail ensures that panels are aligned, and the paint matches perfectly. Adaptability is important because no two repairs are ever the same, and technology in the automotive industry is always changing. Just as important is the ability to take criticism and learn from it. Mistakes will happen, but what defines a good technician is how they respond to accepting feedback, correcting errors, and using those lessons to improve on the next project. I’ve learned that criticism isn’t about failure, it’s about growth, and that lesson has shaped me both as a technician and as a person.
Thinking about the future, I am excited to continue my education at Collin College, where I will work toward an Associate of Applied Science in Collision Repair Technology. My goal is to build on the foundation I’ve created, gain more experience, and establish myself as a skilled and reliable technician. I want to carry the lessons I’ve learned into every repair, proving to myself and others.
Automotive collision repair may have started as a hobby, but it has grown into a career that challenges me, motivates me, and gives me a sense of purpose. I take pride in knowing that my work has meaning, that every custom project is a reflection of my patience, effort, and dedication. With the qualities I’ve developed and the drive I bring to every project, I am confident that I can succeed and make a name for myself in the automotive collision repair industry.
