Isaac Gil - GHC Alum, Automotive Technology
Getting a 鈥淩unning Start鈥� on the Road to a Career
When Isaac Gil graduated from 麻豆传媒 in June, 2023, he made history by becoming GHC鈥檚 first Running Start student to earn an associate degree in Automotive Technology.
Isaac鈥檚 decision to enroll in Running Start was largely based on the ability to graduate high school and prepare for a career without taking on debt. In his own words, Isaac was motivated to enroll by 鈥渢he ability to get a degree so early and to get a head start, or a 鈥榬unning start,鈥� on a career in two years.鈥�
The option to take classes at GHC instead of high school was also appealing to Isaac. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 such a great program that you don鈥檛 need to do two years of high school and can do more of it here,鈥� Isaac said. 鈥淚 took my English and Math classes at the College and that counted for high school too. I didn鈥檛 have to repeat myself and do those classes twice.鈥�
When asked what advice he would share with students considering Running Start, Isaac said 鈥渄o it!鈥� Isaac encouraged other students to 鈥渢ake every opportunity you can. If you can鈥檛 find an opportunity, make an opportunity.鈥� Isaac shared that his experience at GHC wasn鈥檛 always easy, but he was able to find the support he needed from his Running Start advisor, Lori Christmas. 鈥淪ometimes I had to talk to Lori to figure things out, but it鈥檚 worked out wonderfully for me. Anyone else who has an idea should at least ask and figure out what鈥檚 out there. You can get a head start and you don鈥檛 have to be stuck in high school for another year or two!鈥�
While the idea of getting a 鈥渉ead start鈥� on his career without taking on debt was appealing to Isaac, the opportunity to work on cars might have been what sealed the deal. 鈥淚鈥檝e always loved cars, ever since the movie Cars came out,鈥� Isaac shared. 鈥淲hen I was talking to Lori, I was like, 鈥榳ait, there鈥檚 a program where I can work on cars? Sign me up!鈥欌��
As an Automotive student, Isaac enjoyed hands-on work the most. 鈥淭he big projects鈥� were his favorite. Isaac remembered 鈥渢aking out and taking apart an engine and taking out and taking apart a transmission, and then putting them back together. That鈥檚 one thing I really liked, taking things apart and seeing how things work.鈥�
One highlight in particular stood out as Isaac鈥檚 favorite memory from his Automotive classes: 鈥淭oday, I got my engine running! It鈥檚 been a struggle, everything that could go wrong, went wrong.鈥� Isaac also enjoyed getting to know his classmates. 鈥淚n Automotive, we鈥檙e a close family almost. We鈥檙e good friends.鈥�
Just before graduation, Isaac was awarded Automotive Student of the Year. In his acceptance speech, Isaac shared that he 鈥渄idn鈥檛 even have a drivers license鈥� when he began the Automotive program. Just two years later, he was on the road to a career.
Isaac said he felt confident in his skills and ready to hit the job market upon graduation. He credits his Automotive instructors, Jesse Kangas-Hanes and Molly Marks, with preparing him for a career. 鈥淢olly and Jesse have been amazing. They鈥檝e been really great. Their thing is 鈥榳e don鈥檛 want to make good technicians, we want to make good workers.鈥� Work ethic and responsibility is something they focus on too.鈥�
Approaching graduation, Isaac shared that Molly helped him build a resume, he had a cover letter ready, and he felt confident about applying for jobs. 鈥淚 already know that there are two shops interested in hiring me, so things are going well so far.鈥�