Student Spotlight: Adriana Acosta

Adriana Acosta has been around cars her entire life. She remembers looking under the hood with her dad as a 6-year-old, helping him with repairs. After enrolling in El Camino College in 2017 as a teaching major, Acosta's path changed direction when she followed her friend Kevin Garcia's recommendation and tried her first automotive technology class.

"When I took that class, I knew I was in the right place," said Acosta, who plans to earn a degree at ECC and pursue a career at a car dealership. "Students here help each other, and instructors share information that is easy to understand. There is a lot of support, too. I have a lot of confidence in what I can do."

El Camino College's Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)-accredited automotive program prepares students for employment in the field and provides upgrade opportunities for currently employed personnel, in addition to offering preparation for third-party industry certification tests. Students learn skills that can lead to high-paying careers in automotive service, repair, tune-up, or automotive air conditioning. Program graduates go on to succeed in their chosen career, often finding employment in the South Bay.

Acosta praises the ECC auto tech program every chance she gets.

"I recommend this program to everyone," she said. "My best advice? Give it a try and don't be afraid to get your hands dirty."