In 2021, I joined the Automotive Technology class available at Odessa High school. This had been a part of my plans since the 7th grade, meeting the Auto Body instructor. Cars had become my passion after being in awe of the newer modern muscle cars. This soon started a never ending spiral of self taught research.
Fast forward to sophomore year, walking into the Sewell Auto Tech building, it didn’t take long before I knew I had made the right choice. Meeting the classmates and instructors went very well as everyone clicked right away. The shop tour blew my mind as there were multiple lifts, toolboxes, and different labs dedicated to certain automotive systems. As the years progressed I earned multiple certifications, passed many finals, and made many memories with the students. In my senior year, I feel I used the program to a great extent. Mr. Luna started a project within the class to rebuild an engine to put into his 1974 Chevy C10. I found great interest as I had never built an engine to that extent before.
Excited to learn, I dedicated most days after school to work on the engine during college night classes. All of the parts were paid for by Daniel Luna as he wanted me to learn how to build the engine and I’m thankful for that. I had tried to get the engine done before the SkillsUSA regional meet in San Angelo but I was unsuccessful. SkillsUSA was a great experience as I would place 3rd in the Auto repair regional test. I advanced to Corpus Christi along with two other students which was a great experience alone that I’m so thankful was even possible. During and after these competitions I was still hard at work on the engine and we were able to put it together and put it into his C10. As we were transporting the engine from a stand to the vehicle, the engine hoist used to carry the engine broke and dropped the motor onto the concrete floor.
Unwavering, Luna, James Jennings, and I got the engine back on the stand for a damage report and it was minor but repairable damage. We installed the engine a week later and the truck ran great. All the nights spent at the shop growing my passion were spent well as the engine is now in his pickup that I and my classmates see him driving around town in.
The Automotive Technology program has become a staple of my high school career and I’m very proud to experience all it had to offer. Special thanks to my instructors primarily, Daniel Luna and James Jennings for the support and teachings provided.
Noah Hernandez
Odessa
