As a little kid, it’s pretty normal for an adult to ask you what you want to be when you grow up. Most kids can answer the question easily, no matter how ridiculous the answer. (I wanted to be a ballerina and a mailman. Both of those obviously didn’t stick.)
As you enter your teen and young adult years, the question becomes a lot harder to answer. Many times the true answer is being held back because you or those around you keep reminding you how young you are, how you’ll have a long way to go and the best reaction of all, “isn’t that going to be hard?”
When you’re following your passions and working on your career goals, it’s not going to be easy, but your age should never hold you back. Hard work will get you where you want to go.
In this issue, Tomorrow’s Technician spoke with some young, successful people in the auto and racing world that prove hard work can get you where you want to be at a young age. Ernie Francis Jr., the youngest Trans Am TA1 series champion at age 19, didn’t get to his 33 some wins by age 20 without a lot of dedication and practice.
Luke Franta was recently named the youngest ASE World Class tech at the age of 23, and he runs his own business (pg. 29). Like many, he started with oil changes and worked his way up. You have to start somewhere, and it’s not going to be at the top. (See our new Career Corner from Auto Care Careers for more on this.)
Things don’t happen overnight, but you’re never too young to start working toward what you want. Have a clear goal in mind and the hard work to back it up. With enough experience, planning and hustle, you’ll get there before you know it.
CARLEY HULL
Editor
Contact Carley at [email protected]
Follow @CarleyHull on Twitter
