Fixing Cars and Building a Future: Haley’s Story

As a high school graduate with little work experience, finding stable employment was tough for Haley. 

“You kind of don't know what you want yet,” she said. “You’re just trying to make a paycheck…But now I say to my coworker all the time, ‘Oh my God, I actually like my job.’”

Since high school, Haley had always felt an interest in cars, but she’d never had an opportunity to pursue them as a vocation. When her mom told her that City of Refuge had a NAPA Automotive Technician Training course, she decided to take a leap of faith.

Kicking the Tires on a New Vocation

Over a period of 16 weeks, Haley and her classmates began learning the basics of automobile mechanics and repair. “Our teachers were really great and they honestly made the class ten times better,” she said. 

At times, the course was challenging. But Haley found a way to dig deep. “Sometimes you gotta push yourself. You might dread going sometimes, but it’s worth it.” 

Finally, it came time for Haley to take her certification test. Understandably, she was quite nervous. “After learning all the material and trying to remember it, I was freaking out when we started trying to take the test. I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, what if I don't get at least a one?’”

But Haley’s hard work paid off. She passed the test and earned her certification, counting it as one of her proudest achievements. “[It] was amazing.”