Career Change Sparks New Motivation for Electrical Technician Student

Jonathan Carlson readily admits he wasn’t much of a student when he was younger.

He didn’t enjoy homework, wasn’t particularly interested in participating in class and struggled to stay motivated. Although he tried college, the experience didn’t last long.

“If you don’t go to class or participate or do the homework, it’s not going to get too far,” Jonathan said.

Instead of continuing his education, he entered the workforce.

More than a decade later, Jonathan is back in the classroom with a completely different outlook. Now in his early 30s, he’s enrolled in the Electrician Technician program at UEI College in West Covina and has earned a place on the President’s List in every module he’s completed.

Jonathan credits his transformation partly to maturity and a clearer understanding of what he wants from his career. But he’s also discovered a learning environment that suits him and an instructor whose career journey has inspired him to pursue his own ambitions.

“Now that I’ve kind of matured and grown up a bit, I’ve been able to come back to school and perform well and enjoy doing it,” Jonathan said.

Finding a Career Built on Problem-Solving

Before enrolling at UEI, Jonathan spent approximately 10 years working in pharmacy, a career he hadn’t originally planned to pursue.

He had applied for a job at a grocery store when someone suggested he consider working in its pharmacy department. He accepted the opportunity and eventually became a compounding pharmacy technician, preparing IV medications and other injectable medications in a sterile environment.

The work required precision and attention to detail, but after a decade, Jonathan began questioning his long-term career prospects.

“It just really didn’t feel like a career,” he said.

His aunt, an electrical inspector in West Virginia, introduced him to another possibility. After conversations with her and researching the electrical trade, Jonathan became intrigued by the problem-solving involved in the profession.

“I really enjoy the diagnostic approach,” he said. “You go into a system where someone else has done all the work, but it’s not working. So you kind of have to go through and figure out what’s wrong, what isn’t working.”

Jonathan recognized similarities between electrical work and the skills he’d developed in pharmacy. Both require careful attention to detail, analytical thinking and the ability to identify problems and find solutions.

“I’m a big problem solver,” he said. “I just really enjoy being able to take something and really understand it.”

An online search eventually led Jonathan to UEI College. During a campus tour, he visited an electrical lab designed to provide hands-on training in both residential and commercial electrical systems.

The opportunity to gain practical experience while exploring different aspects of the electrical trade appealed to him. After years in the workforce, Jonathan was ready to give school another chance.

Finding Inspiration in an Instructor

Jonathan’s return to school has been a vastly different experience from his first attempt at college.

Years in the workforce have given him a greater appreciation for the importance of showing up, working hard and taking responsibility for his success.

His instructor, Barry Byrd, has helped reinforce those lessons while providing an example of what Jonathan hopes to accomplish.

Jonathan learned that Byrd began pursuing a career as an electrician in his early 30s, around the same age Jonathan is now. That similarity helped him connect with his instructor and see new possibilities for his own future.

Byrd has also shared stories about the challenges he faced when entering the electrical trade, including encounters with experienced electricians who weren’t always willing to share their knowledge.

According to Jonathan, Byrd has made it a priority to take a different approach with his students.

“His biggest thing is he’s ready to teach and ready to show everyone who’s willing to show up and do the work how to do the job,” Jonathan said.

One of Jonathan’s favorite parts of class is Byrd’s “tips and tricks of the trade” segment, which introduces practical techniques and insights students can carry into their careers.

“Every day he comes in, he’s ready to teach us,” Jonathan said. “Getting to come in and seeing an instructor that’s excited and ready to teach, it’s been incredibly helpful.”

For Jonathan, that enthusiasm and willingness to share knowledge have made a meaningful difference in his educational experience.

“Jonathan’s dedication and transformation are exactly why I love teaching,” said instructor Barry Byrd. “He shows up every day ready to put in the work, bringing a natural problem-solving mindset to the lab. Watching him excel and consistently earn a spot on the President’s List has been a privilege, and I couldn’t be prouder to congratulate him as he begins this new career.”

Showing Up and Doing the Work

Now approaching the end of his Electrical Technician program, Jonathan expects to complete his training in December.

Although he’s explored both residential and commercial electrical work, he hasn’t decided which specialty he’d like to pursue. Instead, he’s eager to enter the field, gain experience and discover where his interests and abilities might take him.

“My goal is just to get out there and start working so I can see the points that I do like and some of the stuff I don’t like so much,” he said. “I just kind of want to start experiencing it all.”

For someone who once struggled with school, Jonathan’s advice to other students is rooted in the lessons he’s learned through experience.

He believes success begins with a willingness to attend class consistently, pay attention and put in the effort to develop new skills. He’s seen firsthand how students who take those responsibilities seriously are often the most eager to participate when it’s time for hands-on training.

“Be ready to do the work and be ready to show up,” Jonathan said, “because it’s like a job.”

It’s a philosophy that has helped him transform from an unmotivated student into a consistent President’s List honoree preparing to launch a new career.

And while Jonathan takes pride in his accomplishments, he’s equally eager to recognize the instructor who has helped him along the way.

“I really wanted to give a shout-out to my instructor, Mr. Byrd,” Jonathan said. “I know he’s almost as excited about my success as I am, and I really appreciate that.”