UEI Garden Grove Automotive Program Helps Student Turn His Passion into a Career
When 27-year-old Jeffrey Jusino looks back on the last year of his life, he’s still surprised by how quickly everything changed.
Just months ago, he was living in Iowa, working a quick-lube job, and feeling the growing pressure to start a real career. He knew he loved cars—especially Mopar models—and had always been drawn to the details of both interiors and exteriors. What he didn’t know was how to turn that passion into a future.
Soon after moving back to California, a video about UEI College appeared on a social media feed promoting a hands-on automotive technician program that didn’t require years of prerequisites before ever touching a car.
It felt like a sign, so he filled out the online form.
A few hours later, he received a call back—and within 24 hours of moving from Iowa to California, he had toured the campus and enrolled in UEI College’s Automotive Technician program at the Garden Grove campus. He said it was exactly what he needed.
“I wanted a hands-on, straight-to-the-point kind of education,” he said. “I didn’t want to sit in a classroom reading textbooks all day. UEI lets you work with tools, cars, and equipment early in the program, and that’s what prepared me for the real world.”
Today, just six months into the program, Jeffrey is thriving. With a perfect 4.0 GPA, near-perfect attendance, and growing confidence under the hood, he’s building the foundation for the long-term automotive career he’s long envisioned.
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A Hands-On Program That Felt Right
Jeffrey chose UEI for one key reason: he learns best by doing. He also wanted a career path that wouldn’t take years to begin.
UEI’s flexible program structure made it possible for him to start training immediately, rather than spending four years in school before ever touching a car.
“UEI helped me get into the field quicker,” he said. “I wanted to start building experience and making money doing something I love.”
For someone who originally “didn’t know where to start,” the program provided a clear path forward. It didn’t take long for Jeffrey to realize he’d made the right decision.
When Jeffrey enrolled, he didn’t have a deep mechanical background. He liked cars, but he’d never had the opportunity to learn how engines really worked.
That changed quickly.
“UEI has really good instructors who understand that people come in not knowing anything,” he said. “I came in not knowing much, but now I know way more. I understand how the engine works and how everything operates.”
His favorite module so far has been fuel systems.
“It covered the entire car,” he said. “You learn the depth of why you’re doing what you’re doing—first on Zoom, then in the workshop. It all comes together.”
A significant part of his growth came from instructor Nichole Cruz, who pushes students to become independent problem-solvers.
“He likes to help you figure things out yourself,” Jeffrey said. “If you have a question, you look it up in Mitchell [auto-repair software] so you learn how to do it on your own. At a dealership, no one’s going to hold your hand—you’ll be on your own. He prepares you for that.”
Setting the Foundation for a Successful Future
Jeffrey approaches school the same way an athlete approaches the first year of a professional career.
“This is your rookie year,” he said. “It’s the time to show people who you are and what you can do.”
He backs that mindset with action. Jeffrey currently holds a perfect 4.0 grade-point average (GPA) and has missed only a single day of class. “Showing up,” he said, is a critical step in building the habits he’ll need to succeed in the automotive industry.
“You’re doing something for yourself,” he said. “It’s really impactful when you know you’re building your future.”
With more than six months of training under his belt, Jeffrey is already thinking ahead. His primary goal is to be hired at a dealership, where he can continue learning and gain real-world experience.
From there, he sees two possible career paths: becoming a master technician at a dealership or starting his own business as a mobile mechanic and eventually opening his own shop.
Either way, he plans to keep growing.
“I’m still learning every single day,” he said. “That’s what I love about it.”
Jeffrey doesn’t focus only on his own success. During his time at UEI, he’s served as a Student Ambassador, helping new students get started, set up accounts, learn the technology, and feel confident entering the program.
