SAN MARCOS – The Palomar College Career Center hosted a Women in Trades panel on April 29, creating a space for students to learn, ask questions and hear real experiences from women in the industry.
The event was a three-part series aimed at promoting careers with low gender diversity. Michelle Tillman, a career center representative, said the goal was to expose students to opportunities they may not have previously considered.
“We wanted to help students explore careers they probably wouldn’t have thought of,” Tillman said. “And encourage them to go into those fields.”
The panel featured women working in welding, wastewater management and automotive industries, each sharing how they entered their fields.
Colleen Marie Hines, a wastewater operator for the city of Oceanside, said she discovered her career after earning a degree in photography.
“I wasn’t really using my degree,” Hines said. “Then I found water technology classes and thought, ‘I think I could do that.'”
Rebekah Bachnick, a welding program graduate, said the appeal is not just financial, but also personal.
“I had a stable job before, but it wasn’t fulfilling. Now I actually love what I do,” Bachnick said.
Talena Handley, founder and CEO of Girlie Garage, an automative education and consulting service, said her journey began out of necessity.
“My car was stolen twice,” Handley said. “I didn’t trust anyone to help me put it back together, so I learned how to do it myself.”
Panelists emphasized that trade careers are in high demand and offer stable opportunities.
“There’s shortage,” Backnick said. “For years, people were pushed toward traditional degrees, and now we’re seeing the effects. There are a lot of job opportunities in trades.”
However, Handley pointed out a major imbalance in the industry. While women make up about half of all drivers, only 2% of technicians are women.
“We need different perspective to make the industry better,” Handley said.
While the panelists acknowledged that the trades industry is still male-dominated, they said the space is gradually becoming more inclusive.
Hines said her first day on the job was both exciting and intimidating.
“You feel like you’re being watched when you’re one of the few women,” Hines said.
Despite challenges, panelists encouraged students not to let fear or self-doubt hold them back.
“We are our own worst enemy,” Handley said. “Don’t let fear stop you from trying.”
Students who attended the panel said hearing these stories made a difference.
Heaven Martinez, a speech and language studies student, said the discussion helped build her confidence.
“It made me feel more confident,” Martinez said. “They talked about not letting challenges stop you.”
She added that the speakers’ experiences felt relatable, especially when it came to self-doubt and learning hands-on skills.
Albert Arnal, a student currently taking automotive classes, said the panel introduced him to a new side of the industry.
“I thought it was really informative. They talked about not being afraid and trying new things,” Arnal said.
Conversations continued after the event, questions kept coming, and for many, the conversation seemed far from over.