Then and Now

After becoming a single mom when my kids were young, I started working for Delta Air Lines in reservations, and then eventually took a position in logistics that entailed ordering and shipping parts for planes. I had no intention to go back to school, but I was increasingly curious about the planes, and the mechanics encouraged me to apply to the Aviation Maintenance program at SLCC.

When my youngest graduated from high school, I started classes. The most intimidating part was the algebra—I hadn't sat in a math class in over 28 years! There were a few older adults in the aviation program—very few women at the time—and a lot of young adults.

Grades were not my strength in high school, but in college, I surprised myself by earning a 4.0. I had finally found something I was interested in. I took a position in cabin maintenance while in school, so I was getting a lot of hands-on experience. My son was also taking classes at SLCC during this time.

Ultimately, I earned my certifications in Airframe and Powerplant at SLCC and then took a position as an aircraft maintenance technician in 2020. I continued my education at aircraft fleet schools to become certified to work on specific aircrafts, most currently the Airbus 350 XWB, which has been my favorite so far.

I love to work on planes, which entails a variety of tasks that vary daily. We tackle everything as a team, whether it's a high-pressure situation like a bird strike, or getting each aircraft ready for the next city.

When I started, there were only 2 women, and now we have up to a dozen, a lot of them coming out of SLCC. You can make a good living in this line of work, and there are a lot of opportunities to move into different roles.

"Grades were not my strength in high school, but in college, I surprised myself by earning a 4.0. I had finally found something I was interested in."

Advice

You're never too old to go back to school. Just jump on it. If you don't know where to start, just start small and take a few classes towards your associates. The longer you wait, the less likely you will enroll, and when you procrastinate, everyone else is passing you by. Honestly, if I can do it, anyone can.