Automotive Advice And Life Lessons

Automobiles often become a special place for parents to bond with their children, whether it's tinkering under the hood, or seated behind the wheel for a test drive.

With Father’s Day approaching, WyoTech, one of the premier automotive training institutions in the country, asked its students for the best advice their fathers gave them about automotive care. Students shared their stories and the wisdom of their fathers. While some of this fatherly advice is simply about mechanics, much of it extends well beyond automotives to lessons for life.

Many fathers stressed the overall importance of learning. Reymundo Delago, an automotive technology student at the Fremont, Calif. campus, says that his father also encouraged him to learn as much as possible. "My father told me: You cannot possibly learn everything there is to know about cars, so every day becomes an opportunity to learn more," says Delago.

His classmate, Jose Gonzales, says that his father’s advice was to: “Focus on education and try to learn as much about cars as possible.”

Jimmy Avalos, an automotive student at the Long Beach, Calif. campus, was encouraged to: “Go to school and make something of myself.” Avalos adds that he has followed his father’s advice by enrolling at WyoTech, and is now planning for a future in automotive repair.

Caroline Gishnock, a refinishing student at the Blairsville, Penn. campus, says her father told her to: “Never give up. You can fix anything!” Of course, some jobs may require more elbow grease than others, but Curtis Treadaway, an automotive technology student in Fremont, says that the similar advice from his father and his father’s optimistic attitude have given him a good perspective on some of life’s troubles.

Treat your car -- and others -- well was the advice that Covey Durham received. He is an automotive technology student in Fremont. His father’s rule applies off the road as well -- if you want to be treated with respect, it has to start with you.

The best advice Nick Jensen’s father gave him was simply that: “Your future is in your hands.” Jensen, a Fremont automotive technology student, says his father’s advice made him realize his own potential and encouraged him to pursue further education. “My dad always said that my future is in my own hands, but I didn’t realize what that meant until I grew up. Now that I have begun my studies at WyoTech, I really do feel like I am in charge of my own future,” says Jensen.

Andy Kunselman, director of student services at the school's Blairsville, Penn. location, says that his father never said much, but that he learned by having a role model and a mentor. “Because my dad always had a joke to tell, I learned to have fun, enjoy life and do my best to get a laugh. I also learned how to be reliable and provide for my family. I believe I learned how to be there for friends in need, and help others in general, by watching my dad.”

Fathers have also passed on a love for cars. “Two days before my father passed away he was still working on his ’57 Chevy station wagon. He taught me all I know about cars, and now it’s my turn to teach my son,” says Charles Cuevas, an automotive student in Long Beach.

Walter Davis, an automotive technology student in Fremont, shares Cuevas’ passion for cars and adds that his father’s best advice to him was simply to do what he loves. This inspired him to combine his passion for cars with a technical training from WyoTech, turning his love of cars into a full-time career as an automotive technician.