Makenna Enga, 20, thought she was destined for a four-year college degree. Her other family members got one, and the same was expected of her.
But Enga had another calling. The Phoenix, Ariz., resident landed a job as a technician at Christian Brothers Automotive after receiving an education from Universal Technical Institute (UTI) — a role she finds fulfilling.1,2
Her training provided her with the foundation necessary to execute the skills of an automotive technician with competence and confidence. Enga wants other young people, especially women, to know the same option is available to them.
“There is no reason to look at yourself, as a woman, and think you are an outsider and cannot work in a shop — we should not alienate ourselves,” Enga said.
Finding confidence
Enga described her experience at UTI as a positive, productive one.
“I enjoyed my experience at UTI,” Enga said. “I feel I was able to gain a lot of knowledge and confidence throughout my time there. I was able to meet and connect with a large number of people — from classmates to instructors — that have helped me beyond school in a number of ways.”
UTI is a leading trade school that, since 1965, has educated students in fields like automotive, diesel, welding, HVACR, aviation, and more. UTI develops its curriculum in collaboration with manufacturers of top brands in these industries, so students can graduate with the skills needed to excel in the workforce.
That was indeed Enga’s experience at UTI: “It gave me the ability to experience situations that can happen with cars and show me how to fix those issues in a less stressful, lower-stakes environment, so I was able to retain the information better,” Enga explained.
Encouraging others
Today, Enga has an associate of occupational studies degree, after graduating from the 51-week-long Automotive Technology II program from UTI.3
“School gave me a lot of confidence I was lacking within myself because I felt I did not have a good backbone to lean on. Once I went through school, I had that backbone to stand tall and be confident, and continue to learn and grow each and every day,” she said.
Enga offered advice to people who may be on the fence about checking out industry-aligned training from a vocational or technical school like UTI: “Just go for it,” she said.
“Jump in, be brave, be courageous, be confident, be open, be receptive to new knowledge, and just be yourself,” said Enga, who shared that she hopes to continue growing and one day work for a Formula 1 team.4 “The best thing you can do in this industry is work hard and prove you can do it through your work.”
1UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
2For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures.
3Some programs may require longer than one year to complete.
4UTI graduates’ achievements may vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on personal credentials and economic factors. Work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer and their compensation programs affect wages. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
Female Graduates Blazing Trails in the Trades
Meet a few of the women putting the skills they learned at UTI to use, making names for themselves in the skilled trades:
Madison Conrad
Graduate of UTI Mooresville
Madison has built a 9+ year career with Roush Yates Engines.
Jennifer Carbajal
Graduate of UTI Houston
After graduating, Jennifer landed a job with Porsche.
Veronica Anderson
Graduate of UTI Lisle
Veronica chased her dream of becoming a Mercedes-Benz technician.
Marissa Andrews
Graduate of UTI Orlando
Marissa went from zero mechanical knowledge to marine technician.
Ernelis Reyes
Graduate of UTI Houston
Ernelis pursued her passion and started a career as a welder.
