At 8 a.m. on a Tuesday morning, just as first period is starting at Sanford High School, SHS senior Lucas Barrow is already under the hood at Black Bear Automotive in Springvale. He'll work until 10:30 am, drive to SRTC for class, then head back to the shop until 5 p.m. On weekends, he makes the 45-minute drive to work at VIP Tires & Service in Scarborough.
The second-year student in the Automotive Technology program has built a challenging schedule, juggling two automotive jobs and balancing academics, but Barrow is thriving.
Through Sanford High School and Regional Technical Center’s Extended Learning Opportunities, Barrow has turned his Tuesday and Thursday shifts at Black Bear into academic credit. The two positions offer different learning opportunities. At VIP, he handles fundamentals: tires, oil changes, brake work, and wheel bearings. At Black Bear, where he has access to more specialized equipment, he tackles radiators, engine work, and valve cover gaskets.
"I'm doing more risky jobs that make more money, more benefit the company," Barrow explained. While he enjoys suspension work, he's particularly drawn to engine repair. "It's more high risk. You can't mess anything up, or it's gonna mess the car up."
Barrow grew up working on cars with his stepfather, but the SRTC program has deepened that knowledge considerably. "We dive in really deep into the actual specifics of how machines work, how parts work in the car, how they all work together," he says. "Being able to put it in perspective of how the parts work to make the whole car work makes it easier to diagnose stuff."
Instructor Rich Couture said Barrow represents the kind of student who makes teaching rewarding. To qualify for an internship, students must maintain an 80% average and demonstrate solid skill sets. Couture currently has four students in cooperative education placements, including one at Weirs GMC who has become the dealership's sole Fisher plow technician.
"This group of kids that I have is exceptional. I have some real go-getters in this class," Couture said. "Lucas came in here with some automotive knowledge, because he's always tinkered around with cars. That made it a little easier for him to make that transition to working professionally.”
The connection to Black Bear came through Couture's industry relationships. Black Bear's owner serves on the program's advisory committee, meeting several times a year to discuss industry needs. "There's a big need for new technicians," Couture noted, adding that employers value more than just technical knowledge. "A lot of it has to do with soft skills: showing up on time, staying off your phone, being a team player, being willing to learn."
As graduation approaches, Barrow isn't entirely sure what's next, but right now, Black Bear feels like the right fit. "I'm learning a lot, but also doing a lot and making money," he said. For a student managing two jobs, that balance seems to be working.