Bringing Method to the Madness

Martha Saenz grew up with an appreciation for the work of fixing things.

“My dad was a car mechanic,” she says, clarifying, “like a home mechanic. I always thought it was interesting, but I never thought I could pick up on it.”

It turns out that she very much could. She kept her BMX bike in good condition so she could take it out after finishing up clerical work during the day for Monterey County, California. When asked if she did all the repairs herself, she admits,

“I didn’t know you could actually go to a bike shop and get your bike fixed.” Her talent for teaching herself new skills isn’t just limited to her own life. When a car mechanic friend was injured, she volunteered to help him in his garage.

“Although I didn’t know the specific vehicle, he would say ‘There’s a bolt there, take this one up, this is what this is called […] I would do the mechanical work while he would talk me through it.”

“That’s how I learned ‘Okay, I’m pretty good at working with my hands.’”