“More experimentation is better. Theory doesn’t always translate into practice.”
These are the wise words of Abraham Soto, a graduate of the Engineering Technician program at the Technology Career Institute (TCI) at MiraCosta College.
Abraham was talking about one class where he and his teammates built a bridge using only 100 popsicle sticks.
Referred to the program by his high school robotics teacher, Abraham has had a lifelong interest in building and tinkering. The son of a mechanic, perhaps it runs in his blood.
Being involved with Fallbrook High School’s robotics program and a capstone project, Abraham learned about Rube Goldberg machines and how components worked. The coup de grace of the capstone was the creation of a smart garden featuring a watering system that uses internet data to refer temperature and humidity. Measurements were done through sensors, with internet data acting as a failsafe.
At the time when he entered the Engineering Technician program, Abraham’s main goal was to complete the program but did not have the means to pay for the course.
With Workforce Partnership funds supporting the work of Interfaith Community Services’ Transitional Youth Academy, Abraham received funding to pay for his Engineering Technician training and received work-readiness training, resume development, job search support, money management and soft skills training.
Abraham appreciated that the program was very flexible and willing to work with his schedule.
After graduating in December 2018, as of early 2019, Abraham is working full time as an automation technician at Cue Health in San Diego.
Abraham’s main goal is to advance with his current employer and continue working closely with his high school’s robotics team, offering donations and mentoring for younger students. He is also interested in going back to school to get a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at UCSD.
Abraham’s advice to other young adults would be to “take advantage of all the resources that are available to you.”