Always Curious, Always Learning
I’ve always been the kind of person who likes to learn by doing. Sitting still and just listening has never really been my thing. I’d rather roll up my sleeves, get my hands dirty, and figure things out as I go. Maybe it’s how I was raised, or maybe it’s just part of who I am, but I’ve found that the best lessons in life come from experience—not from a textbook.
Growing up, my parents built and ran a childcare center from the ground up. Watching them work taught me what it means to learn on the job. They didn’t have a manual for what they were doing, but they figured it out, step by step, through trial and error. Seeing that as a kid showed me that you don’t need to know everything before you start—you just need to be willing to try. That lesson has stuck with me through every new skill I’ve picked up since.
The Power of Learning by Doing
After high school, I didn’t follow a traditional college path. Instead, I went to Forest Park culinary school because I wanted to work with my hands and create something real. Cooking taught me so much—not just about food, but about timing, patience, and precision. You learn quickly that every small detail matters, from how you chop an onion to how long you let something rest.
Later, I took a car tinting class in Portland, Oregon. Totally different skill, but the same satisfaction. There’s something rewarding about taking a car that looks average and turning it into something sleek and sharp. I still remember the feeling of stepping back and admiring a clean, even tint job. That sense of pride—that’s the joy of hands-on learning.
Every time I’ve taken the leap into something new, I’ve discovered that learning isn’t just about gaining a skill—it’s about gaining confidence. When you figure something out with your own two hands, it changes the way you see yourself.
Working With My Hands Every Day
Now, working in automotive detailing, I get that same feeling all the time. There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing the transformation happen right in front of you. A car comes in dirty, dull, and neglected, and by the time it leaves, it’s shining like new. I know every scratch buffed out, every inch cleaned, and every coat of wax came from my effort.
Detailing is the kind of work that requires focus and care. You can’t rush it. You have to pay attention to every curve, every surface, every reflection. And that’s what I love about it—it forces you to be present. It’s not the kind of job you can do halfway. When I finish a car, I can see the result of my hard work right there in front of me, and that’s a feeling you can’t replace.
Always Room to Grow
One of the best things about learning through experience is that there’s always something new to pick up. Whether it’s figuring out how to use a new tool, trying a new detailing product, or learning a different technique, there’s no finish line. The more I learn, the more I realize how much there is still to learn.
I’ve also found that the skills I pick up in one area often help me in others. Cooking taught me patience, car tinting taught me precision, and detailing taught me pride in my craft. Even my time helping out at my parents’ childcare center taught me organization and responsibility. It’s funny how it all connects. Every new skill adds another layer to who you are.
Teaching My Kids the Same Mindset
As a dad, I try to pass that love of learning on to my kids. They might not realize it yet, but every time we work on a small project together—washing the car, fixing something around the house, or even cooking dinner—they’re learning those same lessons. I want them to see that learning doesn’t just happen in school. It happens when you’re curious, when you’re willing to try something new, and when you’re not afraid to fail a few times before getting it right.
I tell them all the time that the best skills they’ll ever learn will come from actually doing things. Whether it’s sports, art, building something, or just exploring new interests, those experiences shape who they become.
Why It Keeps Life Exciting
The world changes fast, and it’s easy to get stuck in routine. That’s why I think picking up new skills keeps life exciting. It breaks up the monotony and reminds you that you’re capable of more than you think. Every time I learn something new, I feel a little spark of that same excitement I had as a kid figuring things out for the first time.
Hands-on learning also keeps your mind sharp. It challenges you to problem-solve, to adapt, and to push yourself out of your comfort zone. It’s not always easy, but that’s what makes it worthwhile. There’s a sense of pride that comes from saying, “I didn’t know how to do this yesterday, but I do now.”
At the end of the day, learning by doing has shaped who I am. It’s made me more confident, more patient, and more grounded. Whether it was working at my parents’ childcare center, learning to cook, tinting windows, or detailing cars, every experience has taught me something valuable.
Hands-on learning reminds me that growth doesn’t stop when you leave school—it’s a lifelong process. And honestly, that’s what keeps life interesting. There’s always something new to learn, always something to build, fix, or create.
For me, that’s what it’s all about. As long as I can keep using my hands, trying new things, and learning along the way, I know I’m right where I’m supposed to be.