D-link Page for Image

When did you decide to come to Cerritos College? Why?
I decided to attend in fall of 2017. Having previously worked in construction with my dad, I wanted to switch to a more technical field and had always been interested in composites. Cerritos College was the only school in Southern California that offered courses in composites.

Were there challenges you had to overcome (personally or academically) to attend?
The distance was the biggest challenge for me. It is a 120-mile roundtrip to come to campus and I had class four days a week while working full time.

Have any faculty/staff members helped you in particular?I took most of my classes with Mike Fitzgerald. He worked 
in the plastics/composites industry most of his career and advised me to take classes in Engineering Design Technology and Machine Tool Technology. He said that those two department classes would help with my understanding of manufacturing and engineering, and make me stand out to future employers.

What about your program has helped you succeed?
I think it’s the quality of the program and its reputation. After completing only a few classes and putting them on my resume, I started getting job offers left and right. Even at my current job which is 60 miles away from Cerritos College, I applied and the next day I interviewed and got a job offer on the spot. They said it was because I went to Cerritos College. They knew of the composite program at Cerritos College and recognized its importance based on former employees who had also completed the program.

What are/were your plans after college?
My goal is to get a job at either one of the big aerospace companies or somewhere that’s doing new and exciting things with composites. After graduating, I plan to still attend Cerritos College part-time to obtain more certificates and further my education.

Is there any advice you would like to give to a new student considering and/or entering the same field as you?
Make it a point to talk to your instructor. Mike Fitzgerald was able to give me advice on what courses to take and what skills employers would be looking for that would help me stand out as a candidate. Also do your own research, follow companies that you are interested in and check their website and job postings to make sure your education aligns with what the industry is looking for.