Finding Stability and Establishing Roots: UEI Helps Electrician Tech Student Start Anew

When Azimuddin Achakzai arrived in the U.S. with his wife and three young children, he carried little more than hope and a determination to build a safer life.

Before arriving in California, he had been working alongside the U.S. military as a translator and interpreter in Afghanistan. It’s a job that ultimately put him and his family in danger as the Taliban regained control of the country.

So, emigrating to the U.S. meant safety, but it also meant starting over.

That fresh start began taking shape when Azimuddin walked through the doors of UEI College’s Stockton campus and enrolled in the Electrician Technician program.

Azimuddin already had some electrical experience from his time working on local projects and military facilities back home, but finding good-paying work in the U.S. without formal training proved difficult. UEI offered him a path forward that combined hands-on learning, industry-experienced instructors, and the chance to quickly prepare for a career that could support his family in their new home.

A New Direction After a Difficult Transition

Azimuddin and his family moved to the U.S. in September 2023. Like many new arrivals, he tried whatever jobs he could find at first.

“I started delivering just to make something,” he said. “But it wasn’t enough to live here. I knew I needed a real career if I wanted to take care of my family.”

A friend who had studied at UEI encouraged him to check out the Electrician Technician program, especially since Azimuddin already had some experience in the field.

“He told me, ‘You worked with electrical back home. UEI has the program. Just go see it,’” Azimuddin said. “When I visited, I thought this was the best way to start as an electrician technician here.”

Throughout the program, Azimuddin found the mix of classroom learning and real-world training both challenging and energizing. Even as he struggled with the language and a new culture, he said the instructors made a huge difference.

“I had two instructors, Eric Lengyel for basics and safety, and then Chad Hersom after that,” he said. “Both were really good teachers. I learned a lot from them.”

The hands-on training helped him grow beyond the electrical work he had done in Afghanistan.

“We worked on commercial and residential wiring, switches, lighting, even solar,” he said. “A lot of it was new for me, but UEI gave me plenty of experience. Now I feel like if I start any kind of electrical job after UEI, I can be reliable.”

Looking Toward a Career and Life of Purpose

Azimuddin completed the program, proud of his progress and ready for the next step.

“I’m very happy to be done,” he said. “I’m looking forward to making my future bright here.”

With support from UEI’s career services team, he recently finalized his resume and has begun applying to electrical companies throughout the area.

This new career is about more than personal success. It’s also about stability for his wife and children and about continuing the work he started years ago when he chose to support the U.S. military overseas.

“The Americans helped me, and I wanted to work for them,” he said. “Now this is my country. I feel like an American.”

He’s also working to help the rest of his family — two siblings still in Afghanistan — join them in the U.S. someday.

“We want to live together again,” he said. “And this career will help us build something here.”

From Kandahar airfields to UEI classrooms, Azimuddin’s story is one of hope. His journey hasn’t been easy, but step by step, he’s building a new life — and a new career — that his family will likely speak highly of for generations.

“I like the work as an electrician,” he said. “It’s a good field. And now I’m ready to start.”