mechanics are born and not made
Champion
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,114
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From: RI
RE: mechanics are born and not made
One thing that sucks is having a gift, and no one giving you the chance to prove to them that you have it. Try being a 19 year old girl in the autobody field. I've been in school for it since January, painting comes to me naturally. Sanding, feeling bumps that no one else can feel or see in a body panel. The first rear window I took out, I did it in less than 5 minutes without any shattering or anything. (fyi there were 3 other windshields/rear windows shattered that night).
While I do not possess the gift of welding (I can only see out of one eye and depth perception isnt my stronghold). These other areas of body work come to me strongly. A gift you say? Yes in some respects. A curse. For me? Absolutely!!!
Five body shops told me they either:
1. Dont hire females at all
2. Im not fat and ugly so no one would get any work done
3. The most famous: "Youd be a distraction"
Now is it my fault they work with primates who obviously cannot control themselves long enough to work on a vehicle? No. But did I give up? Absolutely not.
Sixth shop, up in Norwood, MA. Mazda/BMW/VW Gallery on the AutoMile (Route 1). I used to detail for their subcontracted shop Olympic Auto Shine back in 2003. I went to the BMW school of detailing the whole nine yards. Tony was the only one to give me a chance when I wanted to detail. And today when I went up there just to shoot the **** and try and talk to the business manager about my unreturned money from my extended warranty on my Miata.....I talked to the body shop.
The Manager and his assistant.
And you know what? For once in my life, someone saw my work (through photos and my car), and didn't discriminate against me because Im a GIRL. They gave me a chance. And I will prove to them, and the other shops that refused to hire me that I will be one of the best, if not the best goddamn painter in the state.
So is it a gift? Absolutely. But to me, its a strong burden....but one that Im willing to bear and stick through. Just goes to show....never give up. Ever.
While I do not possess the gift of welding (I can only see out of one eye and depth perception isnt my stronghold). These other areas of body work come to me strongly. A gift you say? Yes in some respects. A curse. For me? Absolutely!!!
Five body shops told me they either:
1. Dont hire females at all
2. Im not fat and ugly so no one would get any work done
3. The most famous: "Youd be a distraction"
Now is it my fault they work with primates who obviously cannot control themselves long enough to work on a vehicle? No. But did I give up? Absolutely not.
Sixth shop, up in Norwood, MA. Mazda/BMW/VW Gallery on the AutoMile (Route 1). I used to detail for their subcontracted shop Olympic Auto Shine back in 2003. I went to the BMW school of detailing the whole nine yards. Tony was the only one to give me a chance when I wanted to detail. And today when I went up there just to shoot the **** and try and talk to the business manager about my unreturned money from my extended warranty on my Miata.....I talked to the body shop.
The Manager and his assistant.
And you know what? For once in my life, someone saw my work (through photos and my car), and didn't discriminate against me because Im a GIRL. They gave me a chance. And I will prove to them, and the other shops that refused to hire me that I will be one of the best, if not the best goddamn painter in the state.
So is it a gift? Absolutely. But to me, its a strong burden....but one that Im willing to bear and stick through. Just goes to show....never give up. Ever.
Thread Starter
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Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 504
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RE: mechanics are born and not made
I just have to respond to this post:
It's just hard to believe that they looked over you like that for a job. It just amazes me that people who are in business of putting out excellent body work would pass on someone because of their sex. To me, if it were my body shop, I wouldn't give a damn if an alien came in and worked for me, if they were good at it.
I swear,,,,I would have left those shops and went home and called the equal opportunity board on discrimination. Fine,,,if they don't want to hire you for your sex, then they would have hell to pay for it. Everyone in society should be hired by their abilities and their abilities alone. If I had a business and really wanted that business to be the best it could be, then I wouldn't care what the person sexual orientation was. Things like this just burn me up.
I'm glad you found a place that hired you, but these other businesses should not have gotten away with discrimination.
About the time you think we take a step or two forward in society, you hear stories like this. Amazing.
It's just hard to believe that they looked over you like that for a job. It just amazes me that people who are in business of putting out excellent body work would pass on someone because of their sex. To me, if it were my body shop, I wouldn't give a damn if an alien came in and worked for me, if they were good at it.
I swear,,,,I would have left those shops and went home and called the equal opportunity board on discrimination. Fine,,,if they don't want to hire you for your sex, then they would have hell to pay for it. Everyone in society should be hired by their abilities and their abilities alone. If I had a business and really wanted that business to be the best it could be, then I wouldn't care what the person sexual orientation was. Things like this just burn me up.
I'm glad you found a place that hired you, but these other businesses should not have gotten away with discrimination.
About the time you think we take a step or two forward in society, you hear stories like this. Amazing.
Champion
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,114
Likes: 0
From: RI
RE: mechanics are born and not made
Yeah it does suck bigtime. And for some reason Im weary of my new boss.....I dont know why. I start on the 10th as a painter. But theres just something...I dont know Im not too sure. Maybe Im just weary because of the other guys Ive seen in the field. Or maybe Im weary for another reason.
Either way they overlooked what I look like and gave me a chance. So I plan to prove myself to the fullest. We'll see how it goes...
Either way they overlooked what I look like and gave me a chance. So I plan to prove myself to the fullest. We'll see how it goes...
Record Breaker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,023
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From:
RE: mechanics are born and not made
Thanks for the kind words eh, Word. I kind of get off on a negative tack sometimes because of what I feel is a lack of control over my current financial situation. I have done so much better and in addition, I have the knowledge that if I didn't mind moving out of state,(again) I could walk right back into a job/s that pay sooo much better. That's a tough thing to think about at the daily grind don't ya know. But I know it's not me, it's just the economy. Look at all the airlines right now. They're all struggling. I am thankful that my "gift" has kept me employed. I don't like working on trucks so much, but hey, I'm working. I'd much rather be wrenching on trucks, than working an assembly position at one of these local auto parts plants. I've done it. No thanks! That was hell on earth. I don't want to sound like I'm down on Michigan either, really. This is Gods country and its home. I like it here sooo much better than Nevada, plus, I got family and that's what really makes it.
Good luck with all your mechanical endeavours (sp?) and remember we're as here for you as we can be.
Good luck with all your mechanical endeavours (sp?) and remember we're as here for you as we can be.
Record Breaker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,023
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From:
RE: mechanics are born and not made
You go girl! My wife works in an all male career field too and it's been tough on her. I'm not gonna kid ya. Guys, no matter how chauvanistic, will ultimately respect a girl that can pull her own weight, but will often maintain the "boys club fassad" when they are all together. My wife busts her *** daily(pardon my french) and they are often very hard on and even mean to her when they are all together. She wouldn't cry at work, but I'd get it when she came home. But you know what? After about 3 years, some of the worst of them have told her in private they really think she's doing a good job. In fact, better than most of the guys. They have really lightened up on her lately and she is finally starting to feel like she belongs, but it has taken this long. You have to be tough, and no matter what, don't let them see you cry. Btw, my wife is from R.I. and if you're as tough as she is, you'll do well.
Professional
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 104
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From:
RE: mechanics are born and not made
ORIGINAL: wordslayer
So many things I want to say to those that responded in this thread.
Ollie: Yeah,,,,I know what you mean about finding someone, but honesty compels me to tell you that I am not 17 any more. I'm not even 20 any more. Okay,,,I'm not even 30 any more. Alright,,,,I've broken the 40 year old barrier. I just don't know people my age that mod their cars. Sooooo,,,,,I don't have that option. Great idea, though!
Ripsiguy and PSI Chick: I could not agree MORE with what you said. You just either have it or you don't. It's not like I don't try. I do. Sometimes you just have to accept that, in life, there are things that you just cannot do. It's like being an artist. Someone could give me a brush and teach me over and over how to paint, but it just ain't gonna happen. Modifying your car and doing it RIGHT, is VERY difficult to do. I live in Kentucky. More on that.
In Kentucky, we don't have SRT owners. I've had my car for about two months and have yet to see another SRT-4 yet. In all fairness though, in that same amount of time, I've yet to see a person that isn't married to a relative, either. Anyhow, we have truck owners, and we have a lot of people who drive more traditional types of cars. People in our state buy vehicles that can haul a dead deer out of the woods and haul their four wheelers. There are some car owners that modify their cars, but a lot of them tend to drive Honda's. Anyhow, finding someone in this area who knows anything about this kind of car is just not feasible.
SRT Driver: I understand exactly what you are saying, and in all honesty, it works for most people. For some reason, it doesn't work for me. For example. Every year I always get something for Christmas that has to be assembled. You know,,,book case, TV stand, computer desk....things like that. Here is the typical scenario:
Step 1) Place parts all out in floor
Step 2) Open instructions and lay out parts
Step 3) Wonder why pictures on instructions don't look like the parts
Step 4) Try assembling with the instructions, even though I don't think I am doing it right
Step 5) Finding out, after three hours, that half the (whatever object I am assembling) has the shelves in backward
Step 6) Having tons of left over parts and an object that isn't assembled right and looks like ****.
Step 7) Call my friend Mike and have him fix it when he is coming in my direction again.
This above scenario has repeated itself a million times over.
I do think that knowing is half the battle. Like you said though, I just wish I had someone that could just explain some of the stuff to me. I think that would help a ton. I go into the "other" site and look at the pictures in the how to section and then I try to find them on my car, but I just can't make sense out of the steps. It just aggravates the hell out of me that I can't figure it out. And in truthfulness, I have ZERO confidence to touch anything on the motor, and honestly, I am almost phobic about it. Hmmm,,,here's a good example. I have sometimes tried to teach my mother how to use a computer. However, she can't really learn, because she always thinks she will push a wrong button and the damn thing will explode or something. That's kind of the way I am with a car.
And finally,,,,
Pressurecooker: In my mind, you are looking at your situation backwards. It IS a great gift. Just being able to learn that stuff like you do is just amazing to me. You see,,,,,in your situation, you have the ability to be more rounded. Obviously you are smart, so to be more rounded, all you would have to do is to expose yourself to more things. You have ability. As for me, if I really wanted to learn how to tune a car, I would have to go to classes on it. I would have to have a teacher. I would have to have diagrams and be taught what things are and do. I don't even have rudimentry skills. All you need is exposure to anything you wanted to do, and I would bet the bank that you would pick it right up. I understand what you are saying about it having its limitations, but think of it as a spring board or something. Having ability is the key. And you have already proved that you have plenty of that.
As for me, I'll just continue to check with you all on the things that I have questions on, and maybe, slowly but surely, I will take the leap into doing some simple mods. I have been doing some reading, and they "say" that installing a stage one ECU is pretty easy. I may get one of those sometime soon and attempt that on my own. I will keep you all posted
Great comments people!
So many things I want to say to those that responded in this thread.
Ollie: Yeah,,,,I know what you mean about finding someone, but honesty compels me to tell you that I am not 17 any more. I'm not even 20 any more. Okay,,,I'm not even 30 any more. Alright,,,,I've broken the 40 year old barrier. I just don't know people my age that mod their cars. Sooooo,,,,,I don't have that option. Great idea, though!
Ripsiguy and PSI Chick: I could not agree MORE with what you said. You just either have it or you don't. It's not like I don't try. I do. Sometimes you just have to accept that, in life, there are things that you just cannot do. It's like being an artist. Someone could give me a brush and teach me over and over how to paint, but it just ain't gonna happen. Modifying your car and doing it RIGHT, is VERY difficult to do. I live in Kentucky. More on that.
In Kentucky, we don't have SRT owners. I've had my car for about two months and have yet to see another SRT-4 yet. In all fairness though, in that same amount of time, I've yet to see a person that isn't married to a relative, either. Anyhow, we have truck owners, and we have a lot of people who drive more traditional types of cars. People in our state buy vehicles that can haul a dead deer out of the woods and haul their four wheelers. There are some car owners that modify their cars, but a lot of them tend to drive Honda's. Anyhow, finding someone in this area who knows anything about this kind of car is just not feasible.
SRT Driver: I understand exactly what you are saying, and in all honesty, it works for most people. For some reason, it doesn't work for me. For example. Every year I always get something for Christmas that has to be assembled. You know,,,book case, TV stand, computer desk....things like that. Here is the typical scenario:
Step 1) Place parts all out in floor
Step 2) Open instructions and lay out parts
Step 3) Wonder why pictures on instructions don't look like the parts
Step 4) Try assembling with the instructions, even though I don't think I am doing it right
Step 5) Finding out, after three hours, that half the (whatever object I am assembling) has the shelves in backward
Step 6) Having tons of left over parts and an object that isn't assembled right and looks like ****.
Step 7) Call my friend Mike and have him fix it when he is coming in my direction again.
This above scenario has repeated itself a million times over.
I do think that knowing is half the battle. Like you said though, I just wish I had someone that could just explain some of the stuff to me. I think that would help a ton. I go into the "other" site and look at the pictures in the how to section and then I try to find them on my car, but I just can't make sense out of the steps. It just aggravates the hell out of me that I can't figure it out. And in truthfulness, I have ZERO confidence to touch anything on the motor, and honestly, I am almost phobic about it. Hmmm,,,here's a good example. I have sometimes tried to teach my mother how to use a computer. However, she can't really learn, because she always thinks she will push a wrong button and the damn thing will explode or something. That's kind of the way I am with a car.
And finally,,,,
Pressurecooker: In my mind, you are looking at your situation backwards. It IS a great gift. Just being able to learn that stuff like you do is just amazing to me. You see,,,,,in your situation, you have the ability to be more rounded. Obviously you are smart, so to be more rounded, all you would have to do is to expose yourself to more things. You have ability. As for me, if I really wanted to learn how to tune a car, I would have to go to classes on it. I would have to have a teacher. I would have to have diagrams and be taught what things are and do. I don't even have rudimentry skills. All you need is exposure to anything you wanted to do, and I would bet the bank that you would pick it right up. I understand what you are saying about it having its limitations, but think of it as a spring board or something. Having ability is the key. And you have already proved that you have plenty of that.
As for me, I'll just continue to check with you all on the things that I have questions on, and maybe, slowly but surely, I will take the leap into doing some simple mods. I have been doing some reading, and they "say" that installing a stage one ECU is pretty easy. I may get one of those sometime soon and attempt that on my own. I will keep you all posted
Great comments people!
Just don't give up, man....It is really rewarding when you turn the key and she fires up after "tinkering".
Champion
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,114
Likes: 0
From: RI
RE: mechanics are born and not made
Us girls from R.I. like your wife and I are tough cookies. But the majority of females here strive on a life that will never come to them. A life of marrying some rich guy, and being set for life. They dont really work and if they do, its a job that some of us had back in high school. And its just money for them to do their nails. Which is why females like us, get the brunt of it all. We want to work hard, use our hands, and get dirty in the workplace. And guys see us as your everyday dumb fkn broad that doesnt know jack and is afraid to break a nail.
When my car was in the shop I became pretty good friends with the owner of the body shop it went to. I went to see him last week, and him and the guys who work for him, who I know as well, all told me, "We told you that was gonna happen kid" And I knew it was. I just didnt realize that I would be discriminated against because Im not a girl that could pass off as a guy! He told me then and there that he didnt have the work to hire up another person, but when I graduated, I would know where to go. Luckily I found another job, I called him and he was equally as excited as I was. He told me something that I didnt realize until last week.
"People see you as just this rambunctious girl who wants to work on cars. They dont know your mentality, your skill, your desire, but they also never want the chance to see that. People in this world need to hire you for how I see you, how much we've tried to stray you away from the business but you kept on. Your more than a face at New England Tech, your someone whos there because they want to BE somebody, PROVE to the rest of the world, that a chick can do it, and do it better than any ****in guy she comes across. And you will."
Ill prove them all wrong, one day. Take my word for it. Ive already done some "custom" work on my hood, but custom isnt what I want. I want COLLISION! Frames, body panels, wrecked destroyed cars....I want them back to new again. Ive been fascinated with collisions for years. They dont scare me, they excite me and intrigue me. As to how much damage is done.
You tell your wife to keep her head up, we're alot alike with that "Ill show you bitch" type of attitude. Her strength is probably one of things that attracted you to her in the first place. Shes no weakling, she can hold her own. I respect her for that, and the story you just wrote will be in my mind for years to come when Im in the shop and have to deal with that same thing day after day.
When my car was in the shop I became pretty good friends with the owner of the body shop it went to. I went to see him last week, and him and the guys who work for him, who I know as well, all told me, "We told you that was gonna happen kid" And I knew it was. I just didnt realize that I would be discriminated against because Im not a girl that could pass off as a guy! He told me then and there that he didnt have the work to hire up another person, but when I graduated, I would know where to go. Luckily I found another job, I called him and he was equally as excited as I was. He told me something that I didnt realize until last week.
"People see you as just this rambunctious girl who wants to work on cars. They dont know your mentality, your skill, your desire, but they also never want the chance to see that. People in this world need to hire you for how I see you, how much we've tried to stray you away from the business but you kept on. Your more than a face at New England Tech, your someone whos there because they want to BE somebody, PROVE to the rest of the world, that a chick can do it, and do it better than any ****in guy she comes across. And you will."
Ill prove them all wrong, one day. Take my word for it. Ive already done some "custom" work on my hood, but custom isnt what I want. I want COLLISION! Frames, body panels, wrecked destroyed cars....I want them back to new again. Ive been fascinated with collisions for years. They dont scare me, they excite me and intrigue me. As to how much damage is done.
You tell your wife to keep her head up, we're alot alike with that "Ill show you bitch" type of attitude. Her strength is probably one of things that attracted you to her in the first place. Shes no weakling, she can hold her own. I respect her for that, and the story you just wrote will be in my mind for years to come when Im in the shop and have to deal with that same thing day after day.
Thread Starter
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Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
RE: mechanics are born and not made
I hope it doesn't, but if the shuttle crashed tomorrow, and someone went out to the atlantic and dug the parts off the ocean floor, and if they were rusted and charred beyond recognizable, and if I were in charge of rebuilding the tiny pieces of what remained, I would hire you to put that damn thing back to original.