Shock absorbers stir car passion - Taneka Logan pursues automotive course through deterrents

Chad Bryan, Gleaner Writer

During her time at Holy Trinity High School, it was clear to Taneka Logan that she wanted to pursue a profession in the automotive sector. Now, she is intent on spending the rest of her working life in the industry, as she hones plans that she hopes will come to fruition in the not-too-distant future.

Logan recalls while she was at Holy Trinity, the first time she had to work on a vehicle, and the thrill she got from getting into nuts and bolts.

"When I was in high school, the class had been given a car to work on and I had to remove the shock absorbers. The instructor gave me the air tool and I did what I was supposed to do. The gun felt so heavy and I think I shook more than the gun did," Logan said.

Teacher's motivation

"The instructor was there and he taught me how to do it. He laughed and made jokes, but he encouraged me that even though I was a female, I still could do this. I felt very much motivated. From that very day I had that gun in my hand. I knew I wanted to do this," Logan said, as she recounted her fourth-form experience.

Logan's interest in vehicles and, by extension, the automotive industry would later propel her to enter the Jamaica-German Automotive School (JAGAS) in 2011. This was not an easy undertaking, as several family members as well as males in her class would attempt to discourage her from pursuing her dreams in the male-dominated field.

"This was a lot. The guys in my class told me that I couldn't manage this, and even my own family was saying to me that out of all of the skills that I could go into, economics or sewing or whatever else. But, honestly, I love cars, especially to see them parked on a highway," Logan, who was among four girls who entered JAGAS at the time she did, said.

While at the institution, her love for the industry grew. Several work experience stints, especially at the Jamaica Constabulary Force's Repair Division, served to cement her affinity for the sector. This enabled Logan to not only view her qualifications as enabling her to work on a vehicle, but also develop a lucrative business venture.

Certified repair woman

Logan remembers studying the engine as one of her favourite courses, but loathed the automotive transmission course. At the end of her studies, she graduated in 2012 with a diploma in motor vehicle repairs and is now a service advisor at an automotive parts store.

Asked what advice she would give to females interested in pursuing a career in the industry, Logan said: "It is not an easy road at all. But if you really like something or if you have a dream, you might as well pursue it. In life, you will have people who will try to stop you. It is up to you to try and plant a foundation for yourself."

Photos by Chad Bryan