The Truck That Changed Everything

Raised in Prince William County, Shelby grew up in Northern Virginia and graduated from high school at just sixteen after being homeschooled by her mother. Like many young people, she felt pressure to choose a career path before she fully knew what she wanted to do. She explored different possibilities, from studying fire investigation at a university to volunteering to train service dogs for veterans.

Each experience taught her something about herself, but none felt quite right.

Everything changed when Shelby bought an old pickup truck at seventeen. She didn’t know much about cars at the time, she jokes that she didn’t even know what a brake rotor was. Determined to keep the truck running, she began teaching herself how to repair it using online forums and videos.

Through this experience, Shelby discovered a passion for solving mechanical problems and understanding how things worked.

She enrolled in the Automotive Technology program at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). What she found there was more than just a classroom, it was a community.

“At NOVA, I was welcomed with open arms,” Shelby recalls. “The instructors believed in me, and the hands-on experience made everything click.”

At NOVA, Shelby gained the skills and confidence to pursue a career in the automotive industry. One of her favorite memories was working alongside classmates to repair an old campus transport van that had been sitting unused for years. Together, they diagnosed the issues, repaired the vehicle, and brought it back to life, an experience that showed her the power of teamwork and hands-on learning.

NOVA’s strong connections with local employers quickly opened doors. Through a NOVA career fair, Shelby secured her first position at a local dealership before graduating.

But her journey with NOVA didn’t end there.

With the knowledge she gained in the program, Shelby soon found herself working on complex repairs, including removing and replacing engines in brand-new trucks. Then one day, the head of the automotive program encouraged her to apply for a position at the Manassas Campus. Shelby had always admired that role as a student, and suddenly, the opportunity was hers.

Today, Shelby helps manage the automotive facilities, works alongside instructors in the lab, and visits high schools to encourage students to consider careers in the skilled trades. One of her greatest joys is sharing her story with young people who, like her, may still be searching for their path.

“The trades offer incredible opportunities,” Shelby says. “There’s always something new to learn, and if you’re willing to work hard, the possibilities are endless.”

Her story also challenges outdated assumptions about women in technical fields. Shelby believes women bring valuable skills, such as precision, attention to detail, and strong problem-solving, to trades like automotive repair, HVAC, and welding.

Thanks to NOVA’s hands-on programs, industry partnerships, and expanding facilities, students like Shelby are entering careers that are both meaningful and in high demand. With tens of thousands of skilled technicians needed in the coming years, NOVA graduates are helping meet a critical workforce need.

Reflecting on her journey, Shelby, now a NOVA alumna and lab manager at the Manassas Campus, shares:

“Your donation lands directly in the hands of a student who will graduate with a credential, skills, and a job. You are supporting students who are often the first in their families to go to college, as well as career changers and working adults. You are not funding a theory,you are funding a welder, a nurse, a cybersecurity analyst, or an HVAC technician. You are funding someone’s first real opportunity for financial stability.”

Shelby’s journey, from a teenager trying to fix her first truck to a professional helping train the next generation, shows how powerful the right opportunity can be.

“Programs like this change lives,” Shelby says. “They certainly changed mine.”

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