Breaking Barriers: Andrew Smith talks ASE certification and encouraging Black youths to pursue automotive

Andrew Smith originally planned to attend the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Science in Phoenix, Arizona, as a musician who played drums, keyboard, and organ for his church. Smith, however, pivoted during his senior year of high school when representatives from Nashville Auto Diesel College visited his Alabama high school. It sparked his interest in automotive technology, leading him to recognize and accept his natural mechanical ability—he’s a third-generation technician after his father and grandfather—and pursue formal training.

After graduating from tech school in 2000, Smith began his career at a Lincoln-Mercury dealership, where he discovered the depth of manufacturer training and ASE certifications. Over his 20-plus-year career, he’s become a master certified technician before transitioning to education in 2020 during COVID-19, when his cousin, a school resource officer, alerted him to an opening at Pflugerville High School. Now in his fifth year as an automotive instructor, Smith is passionate about increasing Black representation in the automotive industry and helping students understand the lucrative career opportunities available in skilled trades.

Q. Looking back at your time as a technician, in your estimation, how many other Black techs have you come across in your career? 

Smith: I've been doing this for 20-plus years, and it's a handful—probably three. I'm not talking about a lube tech or somebody who works in general repairs. I'm talking about someone who actually has their certifications. They may not be a master, and I've never met a Black master certified technician. So, I'm going to say three, seriously.

Q. What do you attribute that to? What do you think is the disconnect between the Black community and automotive repair?

Smith: Exposure. When you think about it, a lot of times when we came up in our neighborhoods, we had the neighborhood mechanic. You know, it was Uncle Ray or Uncle Joe. I had my Uncle Greg, and I had my Uncle Gene, so if you had a car problem, you just went to them. You never associated car repairs with taking it in for service. So, you grow up with that, and then you learn from them. And if you're not exposed to the industry, then you just do the same thing that they did. So that's where shade tree mechanics came from. There are a lot of shade tree mechanics, and if they're not exposed to industry, then you’re stuck. You don't know how to get past that.

I think my benefit was when I saw my uncle working at the Ford dealership; he gave me exposure to the dealership. But then, how do you get into that space was the next question. And of course, the training pathway got me into that. So, I think the limitation is we're not exposed to that. We're exposed to sports, we're exposed to culture, we're exposed to career paths through going to universities and colleges, and things like that. But as a trade, we're not exposed to automotive.

Q. As an educator, how have you advocated automotive careers to Black youths who are looking for a career path and career options?

Smith: Honestly, that's a good question because I'm trying to get into a space where I can educate our Black community. And honestly, we have to change the narrative. Again, for most Black kids who go to school, it's sports. It's athletics. There are other fields like robotics, computer science, or something like that. We tend to shy away from those areas.

I think my biggest purpose is to bring (industry) awareness because we do need automotive technicians, right? So, you bring that awareness that there's a demand. So, now if there's a demand, then that means that that demand needs to be filled, and who is it being filled by? And of course, now that I'm in education, I have to arm myself with knowledge because knowledge is power.

Q. How has ASE been instrumental in your journey as an educator? 

Smith: Man, everything. I hear a lot of people talk down about (ASE) and say you don't need those certifications. Of course, you hear that when you first start off, and you think, “I’ve got a job, so I don't need the paper.” But, being a Black man in the industry, I probably wouldn't have the doors that opened up for me without those ASEs. I'm just being honest about it.

I started working in the shop, and honestly, the area I grew up in Mississippi, is predominantly white. I was the only Black employee at the time. So, what do you have to stand on? Because if I make a mistake, it sticks out like a sore thumb.

So, those are some things that I had to overcome. Now, I wasn't shy about making those mistakes. I knew I could do the job, but those are going to be things that you struggle with. I had to arm myself. I have to get the knowledge that I need so I can do the job efficiently. Once you start doing that, then it just changes the narrative. That’s where ASE comes in—they set the standard. If this is the standard of the industry, I'm going to achieve that standard. Each one of those certifications puts a notch in my belt, to where now you can't question it—it means I meet industry standards.

Q. What do you hope your legacy is as an automotive educator?

Smith: Man, that's a good question. I know God has a plan for all of us. The legacy that I hope I can leave behind is that perfect example, because when I went to college or tech school, I was the first one in my family. Since I've done it, I've had four cousins who have come after me who pursued the same thing.

I want to blaze a pathway to show my community how to get to a career that they can make a life with without all the extra struggles. With my students, I try to show them the result: This is where we're getting to, these are the steps that you can take to get there, and if you do this within five years, this is where you're going to be, and if I do this and work hard and I get the certifications, I know I can be making.