Graduate Connections – Meet Lakyle Diaz

Lakyle, 22, is originally from Chicago, Illinois; he moved to Arizona in the summer of 2016. Lakyle completed the RSI Electro-Mechanical Technologies (EMT) program in May 2024. 

Thanks for your time, Lakyle; what did you do before coming to RSI?

Fresh out of high school in 2020 I worked at the Fry’s deli counter, cutting meat. I wanted to elevate myself, so in 2021 I moved on to work for an HOA community helping with the regular upkeep of the community. That job paid me a little more than Fry’s; I was there for two and a half years. I took care of dog stations, trash cans, and stuff. We also had five pools on the property, so, each night I made sure that the pools were stocked properly, and the furniture was put back. Eventually I got tired of all that, basically cleaning up after people who should know better! I started thinking about what I could do to help me secure a better future for my family; my girlfriend and I have a two-year old son. 

Where did the idea of doing a program like EMT at RSI come from?

Well, I wasn’t sure what program I wanted to do. All I knew was that I wanted to do something with electricity. The Admissions counselors at RSI gave me a rundown of all the different programs they have, and the EMT program stuck out because it covered more things. I really wanted to get hands-on with a lot of skills to help me become a jack-of-all-trades.  

How did you discover RSI? Did you know about it from living here in Phoenix? 

No, I went on Google, and typed in electrical classes. RSI was the first school that popped up for me. 

What shift did you do at RSI? 

I did evening classes. My schedule at the HOA community was 3:00pm to 11:00pm, so I asked my job to work with my school schedule. I worked a couple morning shifts and the days I wasn’t in school, I worked my regular night shift.

What did you enjoy most about your time at RSI?

I just enjoyed the people there to be honest with you. We all came together as a group, as a unit, and we worked through a lot of our problems together. So, I would say the comradery, the overall friendship of everybody I met through the program. And the teachers of course; they’re very knowledgeable about the things that they teach, the trades they do. The skills they have are just phenomenal.

Did you have any experience at all with HVAC or electrical before you went to RSI?

No, I was completely green.

So, how did you find it? Was it hard, or did the program come easy to you?

It did not come easy at all. There were days that I had to walk out of class and take a couple of deep breaths. 

How did you handle those difficult days, those frustrations, beyond breathing exercises!?

I’d maybe call my mom and have her calm me down. Some of the material they were teaching me just wasn’t sticking. But I would talk to my classmates and get some ideas from them. I’d get my work checked, I’d stay after class and talk to the teacher to get a better understanding of it. Maybe I still didn’t get it 100%, but I left each class with a way better understanding of the material than I had when I went in. 

You mentioned wanting to be a jack-of-all-trades, did you enjoy the variety of the EMT program? 

I enjoyed it a lot. I’d have to say that I enjoy the residential electrical part of it more than anything because we were actually hands-on with the material for most of the time in the class.

You graduated just three weeks ago! Who are you working with?

I got a job with George Brazil about a month before I finished class. I started April 29 as an installation tech. 

Congratulations! How did you get the job?

The Career Services team organized a job fair at school. They let us know that there would be a whole bunch of employers coming out to talk to us. They gave us a list of jobs, and the companies that were coming. 

What was it about George Brazil that got your attention?

Initially I was ‘all in’ for everybody. At that point. I was like, “I’m going to get a job with everybody!” But when I talked to George Brazil, they seemed legit, they seemed professional. They gave us all the information we needed upfront. They didn’t sugarcoat anything. That’s the thing I liked about them; they were transparent and let us know what we could expect. A lot of other jobs just made it seem like everything was going to be sunshine and roses. But George Brazil told me straight up that it was going to be hard work; they just hoped that I’d come in with a fresh mind and be ready to learn and be ready to work. I liked that.

Five or six weeks in, and now we’re in summer, how are you coping?

I’ve got to say the heat is really starting to get to me. The heat is something different up in those attics. It’s a challenge for me, and I’m not scared of any challenge. It’s something that I want to do. It’s not something that I have to do. The school gives you a basic, general idea of what you’re going to be getting into, but when you’re out there physically working at it, it’s a whole different ball game. Also, people watch you like a hawk. They don’t know who you are, and they want to make sure that you’re doing the job.

Are you happy with the money you have started on and the potential?

They started me at $20 an hour, and right now that seems fair. But once I start getting more into the swing of things, knowing what to do, people have told me that the raises they give out here are astronomical. They said it could go up by $6, or even by $8. Plus, I work overtime. Right now, we’re doing 12 hours a day, every day, so the overtime at $30 an hour adds up. I know I have to build my experience and prove my value. It’s all about your value, and what you value yourself at. That’s always something that you have to remember: your value is what you make it to be, not what somebody else tells you.

What’s your ultimate career goal? 

I made a deal with myself. If I can stay with George Brazil for five years and gain substantial amount of knowledge and experience, to the point where I’m comfortable going out on my own, I want to start my own HVAC business. I would do duct cleanings, air conditioning, and heating. It would be a family-owned business, and I’d train my own family members; that way we could all take off together. I also eventually want to do lineman work, dealing with power lines. 

Did you know that Tulsa Welding School has an Electrical Lineworker program in Dallas & Jacksonville?

No, I didn’t know that. I appreciate you telling me. As I said, I want to be a jack-of-all-trades, I want to do everything. 

What do you enjoy most about this trade? 

Seeing the smile on the peoples’ faces at the end of the job. That’s what really gets me. I feel like I have accomplished something, I helped them. To me there’s no better feeling than feeling like you did something great for people in your community. It’s just a gratifying feeling, knowing that you did a good job, and that people are happy with you. It makes me feel worthwhile; I didn’t really feel that in my other jobs.

Did you make some friends, connections, people you will stay in touch with at RSI?

Yeah, I work with a couple of my buddies actually. And we all still use a group chat to stay in contact with each other. We’re actually supposed to be hitting the bar here soon. I also have a couple of my buddies who are still at RSI doing the associate degree program.

That’s cool – did you consider doing that program? 

I did, but I was ready to get into the field and start working. I was tired of picking up dog crap! 

What advice do you have for new students to be successful at RSI? 

I would tell them to follow their heart. If your heart tells you to stick with something, then do it. My heart was telling me a lot of things, but one thing I was set on was going to school and getting some credentials and certifications, and that’s what I did.

If you’re an RSI graduate and would like to share your success and be an inspiration to others, please email [email protected] to be considered for a Graduate Connection interview. Please include details such as your graduation date (month/year) and program.