Second chance leads to first-class outcomes
Daniel McGee’s story is one of grit, growth, and the power of second chances. Raised in Cadiz, he speaks with honesty and humility about the choices that shaped his early life.
“I always had a good life,” he said. “But I put myself through some challenges.”
Those challenges included serving two prison sentences for selling drugs, totaling six years. Daniel didn’t let those years define him, though.
“I did the crime, so I did the time,” he said. “Once I got out, I just went to work.”
His first job after being released from prison was washing dishes, but he had bigger plans. He enrolled at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, determined to build a future rooted in skill and stability.
At ECTC, Daniel found more than just training – he found momentum. He earned credentials in industrial maintenance, industrial electricity, and stick welding, and speaks fondly of instructors who made a lasting impact.
“Mr. Cordova was a big help,” Daniel recalls. “I didn’t need encouragement, but I liked hearing his voice every day. I enjoyed coming to his class, not just for the lesson, but to talk to him as a person.”
That sense of connection helped fuel Daniel’s drive. He graduated in 2013 and quickly entered the workforce, landing jobs at several companies before settling into a long-term role in maintenance at Metalsa, where he’s worked for over a decade.
But Daniel’s story doesn’t stop at career success. He’s currently pursuing his pilot’s license, with dreams of flying for a commercial airline.
“Pretty soon I’ll make it to the airlines,” he says, describing his tunnel-vision focus on goals. “Once I put my mind on something, I don’t stop until I get it done.”
Outside of work, Daniel’s life is full of hands-on hobbies like building motors, racing cars, and smoking meat. He hasn’t bought store meat in a decade, sourcing beef, pork, and venison directly from local farmers and hunters. He also enjoys turning wrenches and spending time with his granddaddy, who shares his love of mechanics.
His advice to new students is simple but powerful: “Make a plan and stick to it.”
“If you don’t get it together now, it’s going to be rough when you get older,” he said. “What you do in your 20s pays off in your 30s, and what you do in your 30s pays off in your 40s. All you have to do is show up and do the work. That’s the hardest part – just showing up.”
Daniel’s story is a powerful reminder that success isn’t about perfection, it’s about persistence. Through ECTC, he found not just a career path, but a community that helped him turn his life around. His journey stands as a compelling example of how education, determination, and a little bit of tunnel vision can pave the way to a brighter future. From prison to pilot dreams, Daniel is living proof that second chances can lead to first-class outcomes.
