Marcos Serratos
Instructor, Heavy Duty Truck Program
College of Western Idaho
Nampa, ID USA
“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationMarcos Serratos
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
I immigrated to the U.S. with my parents when I was three years old and grew up in Stockton, California.
I didn’t know anything was different about me until high school, when I realized that being undocumented was going to prevent me from achieving certain goals.
After high school, I wanted to go to college, but couldn’t because I was undocumented—so I took dishwashing, construction, and grocery jobs to get by.
I eventually received my DACA status and finally felt like I could breathe and go about life normally.
I moved with my family to Idaho and decided to go back to school.
I attended community college at the College of Western Idaho, where I studied diesel mechanics technology.
While in college, I started building my career as a diesel technician.
I now work at the College of Western Idaho as a heavy duty diesel instructor.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Instructor, Heavy Duty Truck Program
I teach aspiring diesel technicians at a community college.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Engineering
Technology
Teaching / Mentoring
Day to Day
Five days a week for four hours a day, I teach a cohort of students theory of diesel technology. I lecture and then we apply the theory in lab through hands-on practice. After class, I grade papers, create new lab tasks and lesson plans, or attend meetings. I'm a CWI senator for the diesel department. This allows me to voice the department's concerns or needs to school officials. I also visit high schools or meet with programs, like LatinX, to share the career opportunities our program offers.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for high school students
Community college is a great option for technical programs. It was the best option for me as I pursued diesel technology, but you can find so many other good programs as well, including mechanics, welding, autobody, and nursing. It's a lot more affordable than some other options, you can graduate with a degree, and it can open doors to careers with great pay.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
"You can't do it. You can't make it. This isn't for you."
Challenges I Overcame
First-Generation Immigrant
Work-Life Balance
