Mike Lynch is a first-year student in the Toyota T-Ten program. Learn how opportunities at Cypress College are transforming Mike's life.

Mike grew up in Orange County, graduated CSU Fullerton with a bachelor’s degree and became an Audio-Visual Technician at a hotel working on corporate and private events.

He worked his way up at the hotel for seven years, making a good living and believing he had his career in place. During that time he and his wife had a son, bought a home, and things were going well. And then the COVID-19 Pandemic hit.  Covid devastated the hotel and events industry and Mike was suddenly without a job. He searched for employment at similar companies but quickly found that nobody in the AV and event production industry was hiring.

For the first time in seven years, at nearly 40 years old, he had no idea where his career and livelihood were headed. It was crushing.  With a four-year-old child and a mortgage to pay, Mike was desperate to find a new direction but felt lost and broken.

When Mike asked a friend in Texas about his job working for for Toyota,

he mentioned a program at Cypress College called T-TEN. And he thought, if someone in Texas knows about this program in California it must be worthwhile!

Mike learned that Cypress College is home to the Toyota T-TEN Auto-Tech Program, which is #1 in the Nation. Additionally, the programs lead instructor, Michael Klyde, was named California Teacher of the Year for his work in this amazing program.

Finally, Mike was excited about an opportunity for a new direction to grow and challenge himself. As Mike registerd for the program he found it affordable, and accessible.

Knowing that the program has a high success rate of employment after graduation, Mike felt that this carrer path offered the security he and his family needed.

Mike made the right choice for himself and his family by choosing Cypress College. His instructors made him feel welcomed and worthy of his journey. Mike said "This is my do-over, and I am grateful to the College."