To whom it may concern, Ever since I was a kid I have been interested in cars and I always wanted to be able to fix them on my own. Having a beautiful project car in the driveway, the envy of the neighborhood car enthusiasts and kids, has always been a dream of mine. I came to this completely on my own, as there has never been anyone in my life that shares this interest with me. At 14, I was given a 1975 Chevy Malibu, a Chilton book, and my passion was born. When I was 19, my mom died from cancer and the experience left me aimless for a very long time. During that time I stumbled into cooking and found a place I could thrive. The hours were long and hard. The environment was always too hot, and the threat of cutting or burning myself was imminent. Fourteen hour break-less days are the norm for a line cook, and I ate it up. Eager to prove myself and push myself to the next level, I would often be working in two or three kitchens at a time, dabbling in different cuisines and different styles. From Italian to Thai, breakfast to lunch, and dinner, I can cook it. One of my favorite things about cooking is making a difference in people's lives every day. I remember riding with my grandpa to the hardware store and helping him take loads to the dump in his 1979 Toyota pickup. After he passed away, the truck sat outside of my Grandmother's house because she found comfort in seeing it parked outside the front window. After a while, when she was ready to part with it, it passed through a couple hands and the truck became my responsibility. I wanted to fix it up and return it to its former glory. While time and money were certainly a factor in my hesitation in taking on the project, the biggest hurdle was that I didn't know how to diagnose any issues with the truck. My sister was diagnosed with ALS about 15 years ago. The progression was abnormally slow at first, but she eventually needed a specialty wheelchair accessible van. Unfortunately, she was sold an absolute lemon. The transmission was shot and there were all kinds of electrical problems. The van was a complete mess. Seeing my sister get taken advantage of, and being unable to help her in any way was frustrating to say the least. Going through the frustration with my sister’s situation and watching my Toyota pickup as it was towed away on the back of a flat-bed was devastating. I made it a personal goal of mine to get the training I need to prevent my friends and family from experiencing either of those situations. I found the Automotive Service Technology Program at PCC and I knew that it was my path to keeping my own vehicles on the road, helping my family avoid being taken advantage of, and it would also lead to a rewarding career. I am proud of my time as a highly skilled and capable line cook. The long hours and amount of work have always been a point of pride for me. Now, at 42 years old I am ready for a change. I am ready to take a leap of faith, bet on myself, and start a new career in the automotive industry. I have had some close family provide assistance with helping me achieve this dream and procuring the minimum tools required by the program. Beyond that, I am completely on my own. The amount of time and effort it takes to be successful in this program is certainly a challenge, but I welcome it. Being awarded this scholarship would be the deciding factor not only in this program, but also moving forward as I make my way into the automotive industry. I plan to graduate from PCC on the president's list, with an Associates of Applied Science, and at the top of my class. I want to get into a good independent shop and hone my skills and experience until I become a highly skilled flat rate technician. Regular life is so expensive right now that I am being forced to choose my current job over putting the appropriate effort into the program. Finding that balance is always a challenge. I have begun my search for my first job in the automotive industry. Realistically the wages at my entry level automotive industry job will be quite a bit less than what I am paid at my current job. The list of tools that will allow me to be successful in this program and as I make my way into the industry is literally endless. I also have 5 more terms of tuition that I need to come up with. It is for these reasons that being awarded the New Student Tool Scholarship would be principal in helping me achieve my educational and career goals. Thank you for your consideration and your time. Sincerely, Mark Bailor