Automotive students

There's no stopping Miguel Martinez. Within the last two years, he completed his Automotive Technician associate's degree and has earned multiple certificates of achievement, with the ultimate goal of becoming a Master ASE Certified Automotive Teacher within five years.

Martinez enrolled at San Bernardino Valley College in January 2022 because he wanted to learn how to do a "proper oil change on my personal vehicles," he said. "What started with an oil change developed into brakes, and before I realized it led me back into SBVC to pursue a more professional approach."

That wasn't his only reason for going back to school; Martinez was also motivated by love for his family and a desire to "offer my wife and two children a better life and achieve a livable wage," he said.

In class, Martinez learned how to properly operate an automotive hoist and fully disassemble and assemble automatic transverse transaxles and longitudinal transmissions. "It is truly amazing when you have the full support of the school to motivate up-and-coming students eager to learn and become well-versed automotive technicians," Martinez said.

Currently, Martinez is employed at Toyota of San Bernardino where he has been promoted to Advance Automotive Technician. In his role, Martinez performs multipoint inspections on vehicles as well as an array of automotive services, including brake pad replacements and suspension work.

"The greatest joy and pleasure I get from working there is that, once the customer approves the work, there is satisfaction in being able to help others," Martinez said.