After time on the basketball court and an experience in a police program, Isaiah Capacete now finds himself at a crossroads. As a senior in high school, he must choose between attending Mt. SAC to study Business or enlisting in the Air Force as a mechanic, with both paths leading to the ultimate goal of opening an automotive body shop.

For three years, Capacete played basketball, teaching him discipline and teamwork. Being part of a team pushed him to stay focused and committed, even when things got challenging. “Not only was basketball really fun, but it helped me with consistency and commitment by practicing every day,” he said, reflecting on how the sport influenced his work ethic both on and off the court.

Outside of sports, Capacete also explored a potential career in law enforcement. Even though his parents forced him into the program, he found it to be helpful in the end. He spent a full year in the police program, and to close it out, it was a week-long journey at the police academy, with hands-on demo experience in police work.

Although Capacete found the program valuable, it helped him realize that law enforcement isn’t the path he wants to pursue. “It showed me what street life is really like, and I would have to be the one stopping crime,” Capacete said, “and it made me consider more about what I really want to do.”

With graduation coming up, Capacete faces the crucial decision between going to Mt. SAC to study business and joining the Air Force as a mechanic. If college is chosen, knowledge of business would help him manage his own shop one day. If the Air Force is chosen,   he would gain hands-on experience in mechanical work. 

“I want to have my own shop one day, and I’m trying to choose the best path that would take me there,” Capacete said. 

For now, Capacete is focused on making the decision that will best set him up for his future. Whether it’s Mt. SAC or the Air Force, both choices bring him closer to his dream of opening his own automotive repair shop.