Electronics Graduate Success Story - Raefel Guzman

Raefel Guzman is a recent graduate of the Electronics Engineering Technology program at Erie Institute of Technology. Before entering the program at EIT, Rafael was employed at a metal finishing company. He had already received a certificate in electronics through his high school, but wanted to learn more about the profession.

Electronics was something that interested Rafael since his was very young. He says "I enjoy all the work I do and it's what I always wanted to do." But things weren't always great for Raefel. "My life before EIT was a struggle. I barely made ends meet." He decided it was time for a change and enrolled in EIT in hopes of bettering his and his family's financial situation as well as starting a career in a field he had always had a passion for. "I switched careers because I wanted to make more money and so that I could take better care of my financial responsibilities."

Raefel's experience was a positive one he says. "The Instructors were very knowledgeable in their field of study. The small class sizes definitely allowed for a lot of personal attention. The "hands-on" experience in the classroom helped make for an easy transition to my current job. Also, because of the flexible schedule, I could keep my full time job while still attending classes. All in all, it was a great environment in which to learn."

After graduating from EIT, Rafael got a job at Presque Isle Downs and Casino as a Slot Technician. When asked what he does daily at the casino, Rafael says "I trouble shoot radios, monitors, power supplies, and printers for the slot machines. I solder and unsolder components on circuit boards and test them with a multimeter." He also says he loves many things about his new job. "One thing I enjoy is the people. We all work together as a team. I am treated well and that makes me feel good."

Raefel owes much of his new-found success to EIT. "There are several positive things that have come from my education at EIT. It gave me many skills that I can use in a variety of electronics jobs. I am financially more stable and am beginning to enjoy life a little more. Now I know I can go places and do things that I couldn't do before. And thanks to my girlfriend, teachers, and friends at EIT I was able to overcome all obstacles and can look forward to a brighter future."