July 4, 2012 - Camaraderie on Campus

MMI-Orlando student and Army veteran Paul Aragon, pictured with his therapy dog, Zoey.

A student at Orlando’s Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) and ten-year veteran of the United States Army, Paul Aragon has an unusual roommate – his therapy dog, Zoey. Paul suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder related to his service in Iraq. When he begins to feel emotionally unsettled, his “roomie” picks up on subtle physical clues and tugs on her leash to refocus his attention.

Zoey’s companionship – along with the support of the MMI-Orlando campus community – are helping Paul adjust to civilian life and prepare to re-enter the workforce. After a decade as an Army mechanic, the 29-year-old decided to put his career on a different track by enrolling in MMI’s core motorcycle program, which teaches students how to diagnose, service and repair domestic and foreign bikes.

“I made a career out of the Army, and when I found out I needed to leave because of my injuries, I thought, ‘What am I going to do now?’” Paul recalls. “I had heard about UTI and MMI several years ago, so I looked into it. I started fixing cars with my dad as a teenager, and motorcycles have always been a passion of mine. What better way to spend the rest of my life than by doing both?”

After choosing MMI, Paul – a native of El Paso, Tex. – wanted a change of scenery and decided to enroll at the Orlando campus, where he found himself part of a tightly connected group of military veterans. Currently, approximately 15 percent of UTI’s students have served in the armed forces. And although MMI instructors and staff are trained to accommodate therapy dogs, Paul found that being among other vets was enough to help him transition smoothly into classes. He has even become a member of the Student Council, where he’s organizing fundraisers for less fortunate students.

"I anticipated I’d need Zoey a lot more on campus, but meeting a lot of other students who are military guys made me more comfortable,” he explains. “They know what I’m going through and where I've been. There's instant camaraderie from the minute we shake hands. Next thing you know, you’re as comfortable in school as you were in your army unit.”

Along with the friendships he’s gained, Paul says his education is helping him prepare for the next phase of his life. Currently working on general courses, he will soon begin electives, which will qualify him to fix major motorcycle brands such as Harley-Davidson, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, BMW and Yamaha. After graduation, Paul hopes to work for a local dealership and then become a motorcycle instructor. Meanwhile, he continues to train Zoey for an hour every day and brings her to campus often.

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