Jaqueline Perez never knew she could operate a Caterpillar backhoe loader, until now.
"I was pretty nervous. I felt I was going to hit someone, but I think it's a good experience that they're doing this for us," said Perez.
With instructors at San Joaquin Delta College providing inspiration, it's the third year the college has rolled out their Non Traditional Employment event on their Stockton campus.
Over 100 young women came to Delta, not just to learn about operating heavy equipment, but also robotics, automotive, welding and becoming a police officer.
"There's so many options for young ladies today and we don't want them to think that there's just a few options. There's an endless supply of options," said Danell Hepworth, Dean of Delta's Applied Science, Business & Technology Division.
"Every female student that I have had in this program has been in the top. So that's my observation," said Brad Hannan, Delta College Diesel Technology & Ag Engineering instructor.
Each student attended three different career sessions at one hour each.
For Stagg High School senior Phyllis Strother it was truly life changing.
“I came here not knowing what I wanted to do and this like opened up my eyes literally like I have so many options out there now all of a sudden. It’s like wow," said Strother.
Aisha Rehman got a taste of what it’s like to be a welder, although, she doesn't see it long term.
“I enjoyed it a lot and I think I have a new hobby," said Rehman.
Still, other women like Lacey Holmes have embraced welding so much, she’s now a teacher’s assistant at Delta and sees welding as full time career.
“I get job offers constantly. And I’m like, I have one more semester you know I’ll come to you in a semester," said Holmes.
Bottom line, young women learned they can do what young men can do and one day make it a career.
“Yeah, you can do anything if you put your mind to it," said Phyllis Strother.