When Juan Gallaga officially becomes a two-time graduate of Hartnell College on Friday,
he already will be months into the job he received through his training in the Advanced
Automotive Technology program.
Gallaga, a 2012 graduate of Alisal High School, was hired in February as a repair technician at Salinas Valley Ford, a position he applied for after first working on vintage aircraft and for a small auto shop in Salinas.
He first attended Hartnell in 2013, receiving an associate degree in general studies and continuing on to Cal State Monterey Bay, where he ultimately decided not to complete his bachelor’s degree in computer science.
Before returning to Hartnell in 2018, Gallaga worked a variety of jobs in retail, agriculture, manufacturing and customer service.
This second time around, he believe he’s got it right.
“What drew me is the actual place,” Gallaga said of the automotive lab on Hartnell’s Alisal Campus. “The shop had everything I needed in order to learn everything about cars and in more depth.”
He also praised the automotive instructors: “They’re pretty cool. They have actually worked in the industry, and also they’re really good mentors.”
His degree will signify his ability to complete the program, Gallaga said, and his service manager will give him more challenging work, and along the way, he can negotiate for higher pay.
He said training certifications he has received through Hartnell’s partnerships with Toyota and Ford have also helped by confirming his specific expertise in varied aspects of automotive maintenance and repair.
“They show your manager that, hey, you did this – you know how to do it,” Gallaga said.
He is the first in his family to graduate from college. Two of his sisters attended Hartnell, and his brother is now completing the automotive program. His parents are Carlos Gallaga and Maria Chavez, both of whom came from Mexico.
Gallaga is quick to describe what he enjoys most about the automotive field.
“For me it’s the actual diagnostics – trying to figure out what’s wrong with the car and be able to repair it and make your money,” he said. “It just gives you a good satisfaction if you’re helping someone out and fixing the problem. You’re able to see the outcome and you’re able to see the accomplishment right there.”