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Marcos Serratos
Marcos Serratos
01:16

Marcos Serratos

College of Western Idaho

Nampa, ID USA

"Get comfortable with being uncomfortable."

Career Roadmap

Marcos's work combines: Engineering, Technology, and Teaching / Mentoring

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Day In The Life

Instructor, Heavy Duty Truck Program

I teach aspiring diesel technicians at a community college.

My 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.

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

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.

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Associate's Degree

    Diesel Mechanics Technology

    College of Western Idaho

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

I've taken a lot of twists and turns

  • 1.

    I immigrated to the U.S. with my parents when I was three years old and grew up in Stockton, California.

  • 2.

    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.

  • 3.

    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.

  • 4.

    I eventually received my DACA status and finally felt like I could breathe and go about life normally.

  • 5.

    I moved with my family to Idaho and decided to go back to school.

  • 6.

    I attended community college at the College of Western Idaho, where I studied diesel mechanics technology.

  • 7.

    While in college, I started building my career as a diesel technician.

  • 8.

    I now work at the College of Western Idaho as a heavy duty diesel instructor.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    You can't do it. You can't make it. This isn't for you.

  • How I responded:

    As an undocumented immigrant, I had a lot of people tell me no. People told me I won't make it and that certain things aren't for me. After receiving my DACA status, I knew it was time for me to show those people that I can do it. I went back to school at community college with the mindset that I would buckle down, get good grades, and accomplish my goals. I looked for my culture—students who were like me—and got involved.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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  • I came to the U.S. when I was three years old. Being undocumented prevented me from achieving certain goals. I was depressed and felt like I was living in a cage. When I received my DACA status, I was able to go to college and pursue a life I wanted.

  • Going to school while working and taking care of a family was a huge challenge. School and work took all of my time. I was honest with my family and told them I'd just need two years to get through school and that all would be better in the end.

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