Valencia College Stories

A string of labor-intensive jobs drove Michael Alvarez to search out opportunity on 开阔的道路

The COVID pandemic forced Michael Alvarez to reevaluate his options, and he discovered the world of trucking and its importance to the American economy.

——拉里·霍尔

During the past year, Michael Alvarez was in a position familiar to many people; he was searching for a change. That change took form with the help of the Metallica Scholars 倡议. Now, Alvarez is trucking the roadways for one of the largest food and beverage companies in North America, PepsiCo. His gratitude for the All Within My Hands 基金会 is matched by our gratitude for his contribution to the supply chain.

搜索ing for answers in his late teenage years, Alvarez took to job hopping hoping to find something to satisfy his wish for a long-term career.

“After high school, I was completely undecided about what 我想要的ed to do with my life,” 阿尔瓦雷斯说. “I worked a series of jobs and what really interested me about truck driving was the opportunity” he added as be began seriously considering trucking a few years down the road.

“I was working at FedEx as a material handler, and that job was very labor intensive. I’ve been working labor-intensive jobs my entire life, so I really wanted a change,” 阿尔瓦雷斯说. “This (truck driving) is very intensive too, but there are more opportunities” for someone who has a CDL (Commercial Truck Driver – Class A) license.

Leave it to a worldwide crisis to really bring into focus what he wanted to do as he looked into industries could not only survive worldwide tumult but thrive in it.

“Once the COVID 19 pandemic occurred, a whole world became available in the truck 驱动领域. My eyes really opened as soon as I learned there was a shortage in the industry,” Alvarez mused.

“我想要的ed to take it upon myself to learn a new skill. What really sold me on truck driving was the present demand. They’re looking for workers, and you become a good target for companies to hire. That’s why I went with the Valencia College CDL program,” Alvarez added.

Once he finally landed on a career he wanted to pursue, it was time to put his best foot on the gas and propel his life forward.

“One of my favorite parts of the class was learning how to back one of these trucks up. It was such a daunting task at first,” 阿尔瓦雷斯说. I was incredibly frustrated because it was unlike a vehicle, but I managed to get the hang of it. 它产生了很多 of sense once you’re in a job and you’re in a bay full of a dozen trucks -- your main goal is to get that truck square and flush in that loading bay.”

Now, Alvarez found a purpose and was driven to excel in his new career. 他很兴奋 to break into the industry, but he already has plan for his future beyond entry level 目标.

“I would love to be a supervisor and climb up the chain of command at Pepsi. 我想要的 to continue expanding my knowledge of CDL commercial operating, including acquiring additional endorsements such as hazardous materials, tankers, and double and triple 预告片.”