Mechanic

Description:

: I worked in my father’s shop during the summer restoring a 1969 red Volkswagen camper bus. I had to learn how to sand properly, paint, fix dents and waves in the body, repair bumpers, fix tires, and restore the engine. I had to clean and sand and clean again until the body was perfectly smooth and ready to paint. I had to sand out the engine compartment, where there had previously been a small engine fire, and paint it. This job was a great learning experience.

How I got the idea / found the employment:

My father is self employed and is in the Volkswagen business. He offered to teach me the skills and help me restore a camper bus to pay for my college tuition. The entire summer before college I worked up at his shop restoring an old camper bus that we had found very cheap online. My dad is an entrepreneur and he taught me the skills to carry on his very creative and flexible business.

Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:

: This job was one of the hardest but most rewarding jobs I have ever worked: the hours were long and I did not get paid until the car was finished, so the trials were great but the rewards were well worth it. Compared to earning money and paying for my college education, having a social life during the summer was not a high priority but I still felt like that was a challenge for me, I only got to see my friends and my boyfriend rarely.

What I learned:

: I learned so much restoring an old Volkswagen. I learned a lot about cars and I learned valuable skills that I will always use. I learned the value of hard work and I learned that sacrifices are necessary sometimes to achieve something greater. One of the most important lessons I learned was to always look at the bigger picture, because that is the only way you can get through tough times.

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