Everyone notices Ana Remedio when they come to her job.
In a field where most of her co-workers are men, she knows
she's a rare sight. Some people laugh and ask for
someone else. Others just look shocked. She's used
to it by now. More importantly, she knows how good she is
and she lets that record speak for itself.
Ana didn't plan to become a mechanic. She was a dressmaker
with her own store for 17 years. Then everything changed.
Ana and her 3-month old daughter were in a serious car accident.
She was in a wheelchair for a year and suffered memory
loss. The memory loss was so serious that she couldn't
remember some of her family members. Her daughter had injuries
that required several surgeries. Ana gave up sewing.
It wasn't until 1½ years later when her car
broke down that Ana would end up taking a very different
path. Because she was dealing with unemployment and financial
troubles, Ana didn't have money to get her car fixed.
She bought a book on car repair and read it from cover to
cover.
She made her own repairs, put the key in, and tried to
start the car. When it worked, Ana knew what she needed
to do. The next day, she called a technical institute and
signed up to become a mechanic.
Ana got her diploma in automotive and diesel truck technology.
After working for several years in different shops, she's
now a certified mechanic and has her own shop. She inspects,
maintains, and repairs cars and trucks. "Honesty and
hard work make me a successful mechanic," Ana says.
"If I say I'm going to do something, I get it
done and do it well."
Ana
Remedio
