Michael Armstrong of Johnson City overcame a hearing impairment to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and become an automotive technician, thanks to his instructor, Jacky Livingston, pictured at left, and MJ Light, sign language interpreter at the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton.
"My parents and grandparents encouraged me to follow my dream and my goals," said Michael, who moved to Tennessee from Mississippi with his family in 1995 to attend the Tennessee School for the Deaf in Knoxville.
On Aug. 14, Michael was among a record 296 students who graduated from the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton after completing 12 to 20 months of training in Automotive, Business Systems, Computer Information, Diesel Powered Equipment, Electricity–Electronics, HVAC⁄Refrigeration, Millwright Skills, Nursing and Welding, as well as an eight–month online Dietary Manager Training program.
Michael received an Automotive Technician Diploma Award, the highest level of training which required 20 months of study. For the past 12 months, MJ Light, sign language interpreter and member of the adjunct faculty at TTC–Elizabethton, accompanied Michael to class. The two have traveled an academic road which covered all aspects of automotive technology, including a safety course before beginning automotive training, engine repair and performance, electrical systems, chassis and steering, manual and automatic transmissions, braking systems and heating and air conditioning.
Michael said engine performance and electrical systems, which mandate precise manufacturer specifications, were the most difficult subjects for him. "Academic subjects that offered hands-on experience were the easiest to learn," he said.
The automotive training program at TTC–Elizabethton offers individualized instruction, utilizing modern computerized engine analysis equipment, front–end alignment machines, and other state-of-the-art equipment to repair and diagnose today's high-tech automobiles. The program prepares graduates for the Automotive Service Excellence test to become a Certified ASE Technician.
After Michael receives ASE Certification, he said he plans to work as an automotive technician and eventually attend the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology. His goal is to open his own automotive repair shop within 10 years.
Earlier this year, Michael was named Automotive Student of the Month by his instructor, Jacky Livingston, in recognition of his positive attitude and academic performance. When Michael was unable to understand the subject matter, he said his instructor would find "another way to communicate, perhaps through gestures, demonstrations or explaining in a written form."
Michael has come a long way since he was a toddler, shadowing his grandfather, a truck driver, as he worked on vehicles in the backyard of their Mississippi home. "I was too young then to know what was going on but I always knew I wanted to be an automotive technician someday," said Michael, whose father, Kelly, also a truck driver, encouraged him to attend TTC–Elizabethton.
Would he encourage others with a hearing impairment to receive job training at the Tennessee Technology Center? "Yes, I would. The instructors are so friendly and nice. I have learned so much. I am very thankful. It was a fantastic experience," Michael said.