31 years in the field

31 years in the field being an European vehicle mechanic. I am mainly into Mercedes Benz, BMW and VW/ Audi including Mini cooper. I started as an apprentice at a BMW dealership as a lube tech at age 16. They seen I had the potential with a positive spirit when the interviews were done. Was excited when getting the call that I was one of 3 picked. I learned a lot moving up 8 months into it. One was stay out of the tool trucks starting with a Craftsman toolbox bought used. Started with Craftsman tools too and good used tools bought at yard sales. Started working with a couple techs there that taught me a lot and saw I learned good soaking it in. Boss at the time had a Mercedes Benz dealership too that was a VW/Audi dealership too and asked me if I wanted to go there telling him yes. It was due to he was impressed with me and I was 17 at the time when this happened. The techs I worked with there were impressed with me, strong work ethic and I learned from them a lot. By the age of 18, was offered a full time job at that dealership after I graduated from high school. I did not turn that one down at all and took it. My parents were proud of me seeing I was doing great. Went through the schooling when it needed to be done. I was there for 5 years, new owners took over and I did not get along with the service manger they hired after the previous one retired. Then went to another BMW dealership for 9 years, left when management was going under and went to the current European and Japanese vehicle repair shop I am at now as the head Mercedes Benz, BMW/ Mini Cooper and VW/ Audi head mechanic. It has been fun through it all now having a big Snap On toolbox set up from having that Craftsman upgrading to a Snap On KRL at age 23 trading that one in for starting of my current set up. I give back to kids that want into this, tell them debt is not a good thing which I have not been in yet