New Country, New Career: Student Reinvents Himself in Electrician Tech Program

When Alejandro Sandoval first moved from Mexico to California in 2023, he arrived with years of experience as a project manager and business owner having built his career from the ground up. But in a new country, all that experience suddenly seemed irrelevant.

“I had my own company in Mexico and managed over 100 workers,” he said. “But when I came to the United States, no one gave me the opportunity to do the same kind of work. I started painting houses because I needed to work, but I knew I could do more.”

It was on one of those job sites where Alejandro had a conversation that would change the trajectory of his new life in the U.S.

“I started talking with an electrician, and he told me about his job and how he learned the trade,” he said. “It really caught my attention. I went home that night and started searching online for where I could learn about electricity.”

That search led him to UEI College in Ontario, where he soon enrolled in the Electrician Technician program, which he recently completed. It was a decision that would help him rediscover his confidence, curiosity, and sense of purpose.

From Fear to Fascination at UEI Ontario

Alejandro admits that before starting UEI’s Electrician Tech program, he was actually afraid of electricity.

“I was scared to even touch a wire,” he laughed. “But that became my personal challenge. I wanted to overcome that fear. I told myself, ‘They’re going to teach you. You just have to learn.’”

Once classes began, that fear quickly turned into fascination. With every lab and lesson, Alejandro found new connections between his past experience in industrial engineering and the technical skills he was now developing.

“I realized this was a perfect fit for me,” he said. “It uses math, management, and logic — everything I already liked but in a hands-on way. I felt like I was rebuilding my career and my confidence at the same time.”

Alejandro said one of the biggest reasons he chose UEI due to its small, focused learning environment.

“When I toured the campus, I liked that it wasn’t too big,” he said. “In the classes, there were about 15 to 20 students, so the instructors really paid attention to each person. They don’t see you as a number, they see you as a person.”

He especially remembers how much his instructors pushed him to keep improving.

“My instructor, Mr. Tony Speed, would say, ‘If you really want to learn, show me,’” Alejandro said. “He didn’t give all the answers right away. You had to ask questions, stay curious, and keep trying. That made me stronger and more confident.”

Alejandro said his classmates soon realized they were going to get as much out of the program as they put into it. So, they formed a small community that studied together, helped one another, and challenged each other to go further.

Building a New Future with Real-World Skills

Having recently completed the Electrician Technician program at UEI Ontario, Alejandro is ready for the next step. He’s already been in touch with several potential employers and plans to begin his new career blending his technical training with his management background.

“I’m looking at opportunities in property management and maintenance,” he said. “That’s where I can combine everything I’ve learned — my leadership skills, my experience managing operations, and now my electrical knowledge.”

For Alejandro, this new career path represents more than just a job. It’s proof that courage and hard work can rebuild a life from the ground up.

“UEI gave me the opportunity to hit the reset button,” he said. “It gave me the tools to start again in a new country and a new field. It’s not easy to start over, but if you have the desire to learn, you can do it.”

His experience, he said, can inspire anyone who may be considering a similar path, even if they initially feel like a fish out of water.

“Don’t be afraid to do new things,” he said. “Learning a new skill can be the best investment you can make in your future.”