Teenagers. They think they know everything. Well, these teens actually do know something.
They’re high school students in this year’s Top Wrench competition in Knoxville, Tennessee. The annual event pits these young mechanics in skills contests covering welding, diagnostics and painting. Between challenges, the students offered their advice, proving they were wise beyond their years.
1. Find the joy in the process.
“Outwork them,” Madison Warren advises. “That’s how we win every competition. Practice it day and night. Eat, sleep, live your competition.” Her school’s performance backs up her claims. Unaka High School won the valve cover race and pit crew challenges while placing second in the custom paint and OEM body panel paint contests.
–Madison Warren, Unaka High School, Elizabethton, Tenn.
2. Don’t fear failure.
Sam Brengle admits that his instructor, Mr. Kelso, lets him struggle, but that’s all part of the process. It’s a good reminder that learning isn’t always easy. “Embrace failure and don’t give up,” Sam says. “If you need to take a step back, take a step back. You eventually learn from your mistakes.”
–Sam Brengle, Karns High School, Byington Solway Vocational Center, Knoxville, Tenn.
3. Don’t wrench angry.
Trevor Gibson concedes that he used to throw wrenches frequently as a freshman, but his tools experience less airtime today. “I walk away when I get too frustrated so I don’t mess something up or hurt myself,” Trevor says. “Usually when you come back after you cooled off, it’s a lot simpler than you thought it was.”
–Trevor Gibson, Grainger High School, Rutledge, Tenn.
4. Know what you’re good at.
“Time is money,” Tyler Copp reminds us. Tyler isn’t the best with transmissions and electrical, for example, so he’ll call on another mechanic with expertise in those areas so he can work on other projects. When it comes to anything else, though, especially welding and body work, Tyler will do it himself.
–Tyler Copp, Jefferson County High School, Dandridge, Tenn.
5. Everything new won’t always solve it.
Before simply throwing parts at something, Alex Bergman recommends first diagnosing the issue. This not only saves trips to the auto parts store, Alex notes, but leaves parts on the shelf for fellow mechanics.
–Alex Bergman, Halls High School, Knoxville, Tenn.
6. Check your work (and others’).
Do you think you got it right or do you know you got it right? That could be the difference between spending an extra 5 minutes to verify your work or an extra 5 hours chasing what went wrong. “Always double-check your work,” Bowen Baines advises. “Even if you bought a new part, you could have a bad part. Double-check everything.”
–Bowen Baines, Science Hill High School, Johnson City, Tenn.
7. Trust the process.
Likewise, there are no shortcuts to success, Cooper Shanks insists. “Trust in each and every step to create the best outcomes,” he says. “Don’t worry about the quickest and easiest way to get there. Be thorough. People are in such a rush to do everything. Slow down and do things the correct way.”
–Cooper Shanks, Unaka High School, Elizabethton, Tenn.
8. Experience is the greatest teacher.
Books and the internet teach you only so much. Nick Gannaway has leaned heavily on his instructor, Mr. Grace, who has years of experience in the shop.
–Nick Gannaway, William Blount High School, Maryville, Tenn.
9. Find a mentor.
Cars are complex, so it’s certainly helpful to have an experienced mechanic by your side. Peyton Robinson’s thankful for the mentorship provided by his instructor, Mr. Sexton. “Have someone in your corner who’s reliable,” Peyton recommends. “Having an actual person with actual experience who gives their time and care is very helpful.”
–Peyton Robinson, Anderson County Career and Technical Center, Clinton, Tenn.
10. Be friendly and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
News flash: You don’t know everything. No one does. While spending your time searching the internet for answers may yield some solutions, the best advice often comes from a living, breathing person. “Talk with people,” Tristun Roberts insists. “You can gain a lot more by listening than talking. It’s always helpful to talk with people because you never know when you’re sitting next to somebody who’s doing the job you want to do.”
–Tristun Roberts, C.D. Hylton High School, Woodbridge, Va.