Patrick Zajda

Student

Bay College freshman and automotive technology major Patrick Zajda has found a lot to like about Bay since he began studying here last fall. He said that thanks to Bay, he has had a chance to learn more about his chosen field without having to leave the Upper Peninsula.

A Manistique native, Patrick graduated from Manistique Middle & High School in 2020. After taking a gap year, he signed up for classes at Bay in the fall 2021 semester.

According to Patrick, Bay has allowed him to pursue higher education while staying in the area and saving money. Though he still lives in Manistique and commutes to and from Bay’s Escanaba campus, he said this has not proven to be too much of a roadblock.

“It’s closer and more affordable than a university,” he said.

Patrick’s interest in working on cars began during his time in high school.

“I had an automotive class in my senior year – I liked it, and wanted to move forward with it,” he said.

Once he was able to get more hands-on experience with automobiles, Patrick found that he especially enjoyed studying the technology that powers modern cars.

“I like to work on cars, (especially) the electronic part of vehicles,” he said.

As of January 2022, Patrick has started his second semester at Bay. He said his automotive classes have helped him learn about the basics of automotive technology.

“I’ve learned how to change a spark plug,” he said, naming just one of the skills he has learned from these classes.

As he works to earn his associate degree in automotive technology, Patrick said he has received invaluable support from his instructors.

“They like to help me catch back up when I’m behind,” he said.

Along with helping him prepare for the future and gain valuable skills, taking classes at Bay has given him a reliable social outlet.

“I’ve made a couple friends,” Patrick said.

Right now, Patrick plans to graduate from Bay in 2024. After completing his college education, he aims to use his credentials to find work in the automotive industry.

Though he has not decided exactly where he wants to work, he said he might look for employment in a more urban area after leaving Bay.

“I would like to work in a big city,” Patrick said.