For most of his adult life, Thomas Melo wandered. Not aimlessly, but without a clear destination. Customer service jobs, food service stints, and a brief, bumpy experience in construction shaped his twenties and thirties. “I didn’t really have a plan after high school,” he admitted. “I just kind of floated.”
It wasn’t until his late thirties, after a terrifying health scare, that Thomas realized it was time to start building something more permanent. Something for himself.
In December 2023, doctors discovered a large tumor in Thomas’s stomach. Alone in California, far from family and close friends in Utah, he faced the fear of mortality with quiet resolve. Thirteen days in the hospital, and the eventual relief that the tumor was benign, gave him a new perspective. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” he said. “But I knew I couldn’t keep doing nothing.”
A friend encouraged him to explore a trade school. At first, Thomas brushed off the idea. He couldn’t afford to miss work, and programs in the past hadn’t aligned with his schedule. But when he found the weekend Electrician Technician program at UEI College in Gardena, it was like a light clicked on.
“I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I do,” he said. “But working with my hands again, it just fits. It fills a space I didn’t realize had been empty.”
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Thomas was one of the older students in his cohort, a reality that was intimidating at first. But any hesitation quickly disappeared thanks to the support of his instructors and peers. “Everyone has been amazing,” he said. “The students are collaborative, and the instructors genuinely want you to succeed. It’s been humbling and motivating.”
That fear, the fear of “messing this up” lingered sometimes. But Thomas pushed through it, bolstered by his support system and a newfound clarity about what he wants. “The instructors stayed late to help me. My family has been behind me. There was this feeling that I’m not alone anymore,” he said.
Now that he has completed the program, Thomas is preparing to move to Denver to be closer to loved ones. There, he plans to begin an apprenticeship, put his skills to work, and finally pursue a life he never thought was possible.
“It’s not about the dream house or the fancy car anymore,” he said. “Those things would be great, sure. But for me, just being stable, knowing I can pay my bills, build a career, and do something I actually enjoy. That’s everything.”
Thomas Melo may have taken the long way around, but now, he’s grounded, focused, and finally, headed in the right direction.
