Ever since Amy Tam was little, she enjoyed creating things. From drawing and painting to sculpture and 3D work, art has been at the center of Amy's life.
So it was only natural that when she first decided to pursue higher education, it would be within the creative space. Amy spent four years at majoring in graphic design, drawn to the field's connection to her artistic roots. But as she completed her studies and started out in the workforce, she discovered something crucial about herself.
"I enjoyed graphic design because it was related to art, and I've been an artist my whole life," Amy reflected. "But when I tried to find a job in it, I didn't find the passion I was looking for. I didn’t love being behind a computer screen all day; I wanted something more hands-on."
As Amy struggled to find her place in the job market, fate intervened in the form of a catalog that arrived in her mailbox. The MiraCosta College Technology Career Institute's mailer detailed various certification programs, each offering a pathway to a new career. One program in particular caught her eye: CNC Operations and Machining.
"I figured why not learn a new skill and see where it takes me," Amy shared. "Plus, the program was fully funded by a local agency which meant I could take the classes for free."
The decision to return to school wasn't easy, though.
"It was nerve-wracking," Amy admitted. "I hadn't been in the classroom for a couple of years and stepping into the classroom in person was intimidating. It was hard in the early days to grasp concepts, but my classmates were right there, and we all tried to help one another."
Starting in January 2024, Amy immersed herself in the CNC Operations and Machining program. "It only took a few weeks before I got hooked," she explained. "It was a new skill and I had never done machining, but I loved it. That encouraged me to take other classes at the Technology Career Institute too."
During the certification program, Amy's horizons expanded in unexpected ways. When her professor invited the class to attend the graduation ceremony of an engineering program, Amy found herself in awe of the students' final projects.
"My dad went to school for engineering, and all throughout my childhood, I watched as he would bring that engineering background into everyday life,” recalled Amy.
In that moment, Amy's new career path began to take shape.
Amy was eager to remain in the classroom and take advantage of the other opportunities that the MiraCosta College Technology Career Institute had to offer. She told the head of her program that she wanted to take engineering courses and, recognizing Amy’s potential, she immediately helped Amy find a scholarship for the Engineering Technician Training Program.
During the following semester, Amy dove into engineering topics at MiraCosta College. For five months, she explored electrical and electronic systems, automation, robotics, and the fundamental theories behind how things work. She discovered a passion for understanding the building blocks of everyday technology, from basic circuits to complex systems.
"There's a lot of pride and amazement when I look back at my life just one year ago," said Amy. "I never thought I would do something like this – spend an entire year learning new things. MiraCosta College has helped me start a new journey in life and I'm excited to see where it takes me."
What started as a practical decision to gain machining skills has blossomed into something far greater. Not only has Amy already lined up an internship where she’ll get to work with a company that builds cutting-edge drones, but she’s setting her sights on additional education in engineering, where she hopes to bridge her artistic background with her new technical skills.
"There's a parallel in art and engineering," she explained. "Taking an idea and executing it, whether it works or not – trying it out is what I find inspiring. I want to be able to bring art, engineering, and science together in what I do.”