Obstacles
Life comes with many obstacles — some we’ve already maneuvered, and many more still ahead. I recently reached a new fork in the road, and though it wasn’t easy, I’m confident I chose the right direction. Forgiveness lifted a weight. It was another lesson in a journey filled with them.

Planning for the Future
Will, Scott, and I were car enthusiasts. Around the time I changed my trajectory, we talked about opening our own auto shop. We probably should have done it — but hindsight is 20/20.

Will and I decided to attend a Toyota-sponsored automotive program in order to get the certifications we needed to be official. Those three years were some of the best of my life. We were sober, focused, and chasing a goal together.

On the final day, during my last exam, Traci went into labor. I sped through the test — no idea if I passed — and made it to the hospital just in time to hold my daughter. I hadn’t slept and was overwhelmed. When they placed her in my arms, my first thought was, “Put her back in for three more months so I can figure this out.” This is absolutely not a joke

But life doesn’t wait. Some lessons are gentle. Most are not.

Hard Times Ahead
Eventually, I found work — first as a smog tech, then as a lube tech and concierge. I didn’t enjoy either role. But then I landed at Lexus of Serramonte. The pay was solid, and Traci and I could finally give our daughter the life we wished we had growing up.

For a while, things were great — good job, good people, and a chance to celebrate milestones. But then came 2009.

The Great Recession
When the bubble burst, I didn’t lose a house — I lost my job. Work dried up. I worked flat rate: oil changes that paid one hour regardless of speed. As demand dropped, so did my hours. A 10-hour day might earn me six.

I shut down. Wore headphones even though it wasn’t allowed. Stopped caring. One day, I took an online quiz: “Should You Quit Your Job?” I answered everything honestly. The final line? “If you’ve read and answered all this, you should quit.”

But I couldn’t.
I would actually learn later in life that while working at Lexus during that time, I was depressed. I learned by reading about the feelings people have when they are depressed.
Don’t ignore your feelings, reach out and talk to someone, don’t suffer in silence.

The Mistakes That Led Me Here
I eventually made a mistake — an oil change that leaked. The customer returned, and I was fired on the spot.

It wasn’t my first mistake. I’d once swapped the wrong tires and forgot to tighten brakes. But this was the final strike. As I walked out, I smiled. For the first time in a while, I could breathe. I didn’t know what tomorrow would be like, I was elated, relived, and scared.

Now, I could go back to school.

The Struggle
The next five years were hard. I couldn’t provide like I used to. Nights out were rare, and when friends offered to pay, I felt embarrassed. Still, I told everyone, “Just wait. I’ve got a plan.”

But even I had doubts.

Climbing back up seemed impossible. I hated traditional mechanic work, so it wasn’t an option no longer. But I studied. I worked. I kept going — even when staying afloat felt like drowning.

Because what’s the point of a plan if you don’t follow through?

Luck — Or Did I Create My Own?
Near the end of my time at City College, I went on a biotech tour. The first company canceled, but CareDx stepped in. When I walked through the doors, I told myself:

“I’m not leaving without getting an internship.”

I met the man who would become my manager. He said, “Email me in three months.” I did — and three months later, he’d created a brand-new internship program just for me.

Even though the company was downsizing, he made it happen.

From day one, I gave them everything I had. I worked while still attending school. I didn’t take enough breaks. But I had no regrets.

Finally, there was a light at the end of the tunnel — not an ending, but the start of a new chapter with its own set of challenges.

The Blueprint Mindset | My Personal Story Posts: #1, #2, #4, #6, #7, #10, #11 | About Me