NOTE: Kyree has accepted a full-time position at Wynne Ford, and is pursuing training and certifications as an auto mechanic and repair technician!
Kyree has successfully completed three (3) CK-facilitated internships at Wynne Ford, a partnership created with the assistance of Hampton City Schools, continuing to challenge himself at every step. We are excited to share his amazing journey, and to help others understand the magnitude of the work you are supporting.
Foundations: Auto READY Course
First was CK’s Auto READY Course, operated by skills trainer Beret Deweese at Wynne Ford. The course allows Beret to see what the students know, while providing them crucial base knowledge and hands-on experience before moving into a full repair shop internship. Kyree always knew he wanted to work on automobiles; both of his parents are in the industry, and he grew up taking apart remote-controlled cars so he could put all of the “best” parts of each one together to make a different car. When asked if his creations always worked, he said “no, but I really enjoyed figuring out why they weren’t working.” He ultimately decided that he loved doing the work, so why not get paid to do it! I learned that how I see things isn’t necessarily how other people see things. The Auto READY Course was a challenge for him not in terms of technical skills, but in terms of working on a team. Kyree said “I learned that how I see things isn’t necessarily how other people see things,” and learned how to reframe the challenge they were working through so others could understand as well.
Getting his Hands Dirty: Wynne’s Auto Mechanic Shop
After completing the Auto READY Course, it was time to dive into a full work experience in Wynne’s mechanic’s shop. Kyree was excited – “Now I have to do the work!” Beret, his skills trainer once again, recognized his learning style – letting him encounter a challenge, work to determine a solution, learn from that struggle and then provide support and feedback. Beret was not alone, however – Kyree noted that the entire team of auto techs involved him, ensuring he was always experiencing, learning and supported.
A New Opportunity: Wynne’s Mobile Unit
Based on the skills Kyree exhibited during his first two opportunities at Wynne, a new internship was developed with Israel “Izzy” Flores, the auto tech operating Wynne’s Mobile Unit. Kyree knew how to handle the maintenance work on the vehicles, but the environment outside of the shop was challenging. Kyree noted, “Izzy didn’t really get to teach me because I already knew all the technical skills. We did a lot of improvising work.” Izzy confirmed that Kyree’s skills were natural and amazing; he would talk Kyree through the considerations he needed to have for a particular repair job and then watch the magic happen. Once, Izzy walked through the individual steps and precautions when changing an airbag for a recall for thirty minutes; immediately after that, Kyree was replacing them correctly and quickly. As a team leaning on each other’s strengths, Izzy and Kyree could accomplish 2-3 times as much work in a shift.
The Importance of Knight Rides
“I would not have been able to do these internships without Knight Rides. I didn’t have to worry about rides or spending money on Ubers.”
The Importance of Community Knights
“If I wasn’t involved with CK, getting in and proving myself would have been extremely difficult. You don’t get an opportunity like this anywhere else.”
What’s Next?
Kyree has now graduated and looks forward to a career in automotive work. When asked what advice he has for others, he provided the following thoughts:
- SLOW DOWN! It’s easy to make mistakes.
- ASK QUESTIONS! If someone doesn’t want to help, that’s not someone you want to work with.
- The original content (Auto READY) might seem dull because it’s basics, but don’t be arrogant because the work becomes humbling very quickly.
- CK is a good opportunity to do what others won’t let you do. You get connections to new places and you are less risky as a hire because of your experience.