Turning Inspiration into a Career: Juan Rivera’s HVAC-R Adventure

Juan Rivera already knew that he enjoyed doing hands-on, mechanical work when he started looking at schools. He learned about San Joaquin Valley College’s Heating Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration program close to his home in Lancaster, California through one of the school’s advisors and applied in 2022. With his sister, to inspire him and his dad to motivate him through challenging times, Juan graduated this summer and took a job with Rowland Air. 

Please tell us about yourself. 

I was born in Hollywood, California, and grew up in the Lynwood neighborhood outside Compton until I was a teenager. Now I’m twenty-five years old. I enjoy hard work and getting dirty. That is rewarding to me. I am also very honest. I have three older siblings and I’m the youngest in my family. They already have kids and careers. I want to have my own career and business someday.  

When did you decide to pursue a career in HVAC? 

I wanted a career that was busy and hands-on. I was already interested in the electrical and mechanical trades, but I didn’t know there was a program available in Lancaster where I live. I only knew about the one in Ontario. The guy who was helping me at Ontario told me about the one in Lancaster. I realized that it had been a year since I had last talked to him and I could have gone to school and graduated during that time. I started not too long after that. 

Who or what motivated you to go back to school? 

My sister, she was 19 years old when she had her first kid and then continued to become a doctor. Having a kid–actually four kids–never stopped her. She got the help she needed to accomplish her goals. She inspired me to go back to school.  

What was your favorite part of your program at SJVC? 

The hands-on parts were my favorite. We did things like take condensers and furnaces apart and put them back together again. That kind of experience always made me feel happy and proud. It was also a lot of fun. 

What was the most challenging part of your program? 

There was one point when I was going through a bit of a tough patch in my life. I overcame that quickly because I needed to focus on my career and school.  

What got you through the challenging times? 

My dad really helped me. He kept telling me how there are going to be those days that are hard and I’m just going to have to push through them. He reminded me that I already know how to do that because I have been through a lot in my life. My mom passed away when I was 16 years old. When I think about her and how my parents endured so much by coming to the United States from Mexico, it always motivates me to keep going.  

Are there SJVC instructors or staff members whom you would like to acknowledge? 

Yes, Mr. Cornejo, Mr. Moreno, and Mr. Palacio. I was the most comfortable with those instructors. They taught us about what it was going to be like in the field. They taught us different ways to work with the tools and how to do the jobs. That helped me gain more experience, interest, and confidence, so I had a lot less fear of going in and doing certain things. I could ask a lot of questions and they would answer me. I have found that this comes in handy with helping customers.  

Please tell us about your current work 

I just started at Rowland Air about a month ago and it’s been great. I really like my coworkers. If I have a question or need something, they are always happy to help. It’s a very supportive workplace and I get to help people.  

Do you have any advice for people interested in going into your field? 

Enter it with an open mind. Don’t be afraid of the equipment or to ask questions. Take your time and don’t rush. Also, make friends with your professors and your classmates when you are in school. Make sure you get the information down and then go from there.