Sophomore Singled Out in Auto Tech

by Emily Fevold

It’s just another day at the farm. Sophomore Erin Penner drives her ranger around for an hour or so, her dog Nell, a blonde Labrador retriever, chasing after her. They make stops along the way, one at the tree house, one at the beehives and one at the barn.

The walls of the barn are adorned with items from the past and the present. A small, pink fishing rod for Erin and a small green one for her brother, Will, lean against one wall, surrounded by newer rods and plenty of memories. For Erin, the farm is just one more home.

Two men are in the barn with her. They begin to work on the jeep while Erin parks the ranger. She looks up and sees them working on the engine. Erin watches them as they tighten a cap, shine the light on some not-so-shiny parts. They check the oil and go about their business. Little did they know that they just taught this girl something that could be very useful in her future.

Penner didn’t always think she’d be into cars. At one point she wanted to teach at an elementary school. But as time passed, Penner found herself becoming more and more interested in auto mechanics.

“Seeing the guys on the farm work on the cars, I just wanted to know more,” Penner said.

Because of this desire to know more, Penner enrolled herself in Industrial Technology, or “Auto Tech”. This class, taught by Brian Gay, covers subjects such as changing the oil, how air conditioning works, and how to inspect the engine.

Penner is the only girl in her class, and for her, it doesn’t really matter. Though at times, it can make her and “the guys” uncomfortable.

“The other day, Mr. Gay started class by saying, ‘Okay guys,’” Penner recalls. After looking around the room for a moment, Gay added, “And gal.”

While the boys may make the occasional “it must have been a woman driver” jokes, Penner feels like her classmates sometimes hold back. Instead of just being themselves, the boys seem to notice a female presence and really hold back.

Though they seem to hold their tongues, the boys don’t ignore Penner. Some guys will hang out with her and sit out from the occasional basketball game so she’ll have someone to talk to. Others will joke about how one peer really wants to be with her.

At the same time, not all of these claims are jokes.

Once, Penner was sitting in her friend’s basement, flipping between Adventure Time and Psych. She placed the plastic backing of her always-breaking phone back into its place as she went to read a new text message.

“I really really like you,” the text read.

Penner turned to her friend, eyes wide, cheeks turning red. What should she say? Does she like him back? No. Maybe? No.

The rejection text was the only one she’s had to type. That’s one fact Penner is grateful for. Since that night, Penner hasn’t had any similar problems with the guys in her class.

Instead, Penner’s starting to feel more at ease in this testosterone-filled room she calls fifth hour. She still doesn’t talk much, though she’s never been much of a talker in any of her classes. Penner will simply listen and watch the guys as they perform various tricks. One trick includes a certain thrusting forward of the arm in such a way that the elbow pops, thrusting a tennis ball into the air.

“The other day, Taylor Estrella ran up a wall,” Penner said. “He just ran up the wall, touched the gutter, and dropped down. Everyone was stunned; people’s jaws dropped.”

Most of these feats are performed in the little free time between lessons, especially on workdays.

On block days, Penner looks forward to workdays, class periods in which students get a more hands-on experience with cars. While she absorbs the information they cover in the book, Penner wishes the class could contain more workdays.

“I think I understand more from what we do on workdays,” Penner said. “I enjoy the videos and stuff, but I’m more of a hands-on learner.”

At the farm, Penner now puts what she’s learned from class and observations into practice.
Working on the Jeep is one way Penner practices for her future career.

These moments at the farm and the workdays at school are few, so Penner doesn’t get as much time as she wants working on cars. After school, she has pole vaulting practice. This is followed by what can be hours of school work.

After homework, Penner works on her chores. This may include cleaning her room, washing the dishes, or tidying up the kitchen and living room. As summer approaches, Penner prepares for her multiple lawn-mowing jobs.

“Erin has always been a hard worker,” Dan Penner, Erin’s father, said. “She takes her responsibilities seriously. She has never been satisfied with average work.”

While she does work hard, Penner still finds time to watch the occasional episode of “How I Met Your Mother”, hang out with friends, or play some Super Smash Bros. She’s not afraid to dance like a maniac or say something silly, as long as she’s having fun with her friends.

“[Erin] believes in being real and not what other people want her to be,” Dan Penner said.

Erin may live in the moment, but she can’t help to think about the future. She plans on going to a college like Pittsburg State University, and one day fix up cars, preferably Mercedes. You’ve got to admit, this girl’s driven.