Those who want to succeed let nothing stand in their way. Ohio Tech prides itself on having students who are willing to take on everything we have to offer and overcome life’s obstacles to become great.
A common reason many students give for not attending college is that it is too far away. Many don’t want a long commute, or simply don’t want to leave the comfort and familiarity of their home, family and friends despite the opportunity that awaits. Imagine having to leave your home country, learn a new language, acclimate to a new culture, enroll in college, and basically start over?
Ohio Technical College has a number of students who have relocated to the United States and are now here attending our automotive, diesel or other specialty career training programs with the hopes of making a better life.
One great example is Dadhi Phuyel of our Collision Repair & Refinishing training program was born in Bhutan. Due to political issues and fighting, he and his family became refugees and relocated to Nepal in 1992. There he went to school, learned English and graduated from high school. Phuyel says it was funny that they were taught English because no one there spoke it. “It came in handy when we relocated to the US, but we didn’t speak it or write it while living in India.” At age 26 Phuyel and his family got a sponsorship and were able to come to the United States.
Phuyel, of CR-135, says he didn’t know anything about automotive or collision repair until after he arrived in the US. “Back in India, driving conditions are crazy,” he says. “At least here there are rules, and for the most part everyone follows them – that is not the case back there.” Phuyel bought a vehicle shortly after he got his driver’s license and it was damaged in an accident. “I paid a lot of money for this car, and got like $200 for it after the accident. I bought another one, and some time later had problems with it,” he says. “I thought maybe I was being taken advantage of due to my lack of understanding of how things worked, so I decided to learn how to fix cars myself.” That when he looked into collision repair schools in Ohio.
At the time he was working in a local factory, and a co-worker brought in some information on Ohio Technical College. “I looked over the information and decided I should look into it. I made the appointment to come and see the school.”
Phuyel works seven days a week at a factory, ten hours a day. He leaves OTC around 2pm, and has to be at work by 3:30pm. He’s there until 2:00am – gets an hour or so of sleep, and is at OTC by 7:30am. He says he knows he has been given a great opportunity to better his life as well as that of his wife, who he met here in the US.
“I plan on working hard to increase my skills and eventually working in a collision shop.” Phuyel says his classmates and instructors have all been extremely helpful in showing him how to do a specific task, or taking the time to explain something he doesn’t quite understand. “I come in extra if I have to; to make sure I’ve got it”
He says more than likely he will take advantage of Lifetime Learning at OTC and re-take a few classes again to sharpen his skills.