Michael Sandoval didn’t have the best role models growing up, but after spending time serving in the military he felt inspired to not only give back to those around him, but to find a career that he could really enjoy doing.
“I grew up looking at the people around me. That’s not the life I wanted,” he said. “My mom was out on the streets, addicted to drugs. My dad was deported and never really did much with his life. My older sister also became a drug addict. It scared me in a way. Seeing that in my life and growing up with it, for the longest time I thought that was normal. I thought it was normal to not graduate from high school. To smoke meth. Everyone was doing it. You see it around you. Everyone worked at a warehouse and was just comfortable with living paycheck to paycheck. I thought that was how life is.”
At the age of 19 Michael decided to break the family mold and joined the military. He was sent to Texas and the experience opened his eyes.
“I was in Texas for four years and it was one of my favorite places,” he said. “I learned there’s a whole new world out there. That’s what drives me. I know there’s a whole new world out there.”
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When his contract ended, Michael was excited to continue learning what the world had to offer. He tried community college, then security, then truck driving, but he knew none were a real fit. A career in the electrical field caught his eye, but Michael learned he needed some basic training before he could jump into a job. That’s when he discovered the Electrician Technician program UEI College in Reseda and decided to give it a try–even though the campus was an hour from his home.
“Everyone there was really friendly and walking in, you saw them working hands on,” he said. “I really liked that.”
Michael soon learned the electrical field had a lot to offer him.
“Electrical is not easy. It’s very mind-stimulating,” Michael said. “I didn’t like truck driving because it was all day and it was repetitive. Electrical is more complex. There are different problems and different solutions to it. I like a challenge in my life. I like diagnosing things and trying to find a solution. It feels good when you find that solution and you’re able to wire everything up and turn on that light. You know you worked hard for it.”
The discipline Michael gained in the military really helped him at UEI. He recognized early on that you get out of the program what you put into it.
“I’m happy to be there. I want to do my best at UEI. I want to get that 4.0 and perfect attendance. You have to put the hours in,” Michael said. “UEI has a lot to offer, you just have to take advantage of it. I’ve realized I really do like electrical. It’s something I’m willing to put my time and effort into. UEI taught me that. They showed me this is something I could do for the rest of my life.”
As Michael continues through the program he looks forward to sharing what he has learned with those around him.
“I love UEI. The instructors are good instructors. They are willing to teach. I’ve been learning a lot,” he said. “I want to be a better role model to my family and show them we can do more. There are a lot of options out there. You don’t have to settle for anything. Keep striving. Keep pushing yourself. Don’t quit on yourself. If you don’t like something, don’t be scared to try new things.”
