Elizabet always knew she wanted an aviation career. Initially, she pictured herself becoming a pilot. She studied aircraft operations in Ukraine, planning to get her licence. But when the war forced her to flee to Croatia, those plans were pushed off course.
Starting over, Elizabet took a job as an airport gate and ticket agent. That’s when it clicked. She saw that being around aircraft—not necessarily flying them—was what really mattered to her.
By the time she arrived in Canada, aviation had shaped her life in more ways than she expected. With an enterprising drive to rebuild her career, she found her way to Mohawk College’s Aviation Technician, Aircraft Maintenance program.
Now, she’s turning a winding journey into a promising career trajectory.
“When I started my studies, I immediately knew I would love it,” says Elizabet. “Hands-on skills combined with my passion for aviation were a perfect choice … I believe that these life events have shaped me as a person, and thanks to them, I am doing what I love.”
Building success through industry-led learning
Mohawk College’s two-year Aviation Technician - Aircraft Maintenance program balances theory with practical training in the college’s hangar (Youtube video) at Hamilton International Airport. Students learn to inspect, troubleshoot and repair various aircraft, from small planes to heavy jets and helicopters. They also get familiar with the industry’s rules and regulations.
A focus on industry-driven learning gives students a direct line to aviation employers and expectations, ensuring they leave Mohawk College with the skills the sector needs right now. Graduates earn a diploma and can start working toward their Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME-M) certification, which lets them officially maintain and repair aircraft.
For Elizabet, the realistic learning environment stood out immediately. But it was the people around her that really confirmed she was in the right place.
“The people that I’m surrounded with and the community that you’re in when you’re in aircraft maintenance are similar to you in many ways,” she says. “So, I think that was the biggest sign for me that that’s where I’m supposed to be in my career.”
Learning beyond the classroom
The sense of support has shaped some of Elizabet’s most memorable experiences in the program. Just a few months after starting, she was selected to join a skills competition. It was her first big chance to test what she’d learned, and it opened the door to more growth.
Through competitions, she also found a mentor in Professor Adam Sabourin, whose encouragement pushes Elizabet to take on new challenges.
“The competitions teach me that hard work always pays off,” Elizabet says. “It also gives me peace of mind, whenever I work my hardest, to be confident in my abilities. Even if I don’t win or don’t reach a result that I like, I’ll still be satisfied in how I did and what skills I presented because I feel like they’re going to be a direct representation of me as a person as well.”
Competitions are just one way Elizabet is preparing for her future. Mohawk College’s commitment to embedding industry-led learning into every stage of a student’s journey connected Elizabet to work experience at an aircraft manufacturing facility.
That experience led to a part-time job—an opportunity Elizabet is building on while also juggling another job and a 50-minute commute to campus. It’s a lot to manage, but for Elizabet, the workload never feels like a burden.
“I advise that people actually choose something they’re really passionate about because it makes it way easier to find satisfaction if you enjoy the path that you chose,” says Elizabet, who hopes to work at a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility or join an airline after graduation.
“For me, full-time studies … feel like you’re learning about something so fascinating it doesn't actually feel like you're studying.”
Elizabet’s path hasn’t been simple, but it shows how genuine curiosity and an enterprising drive can turn every detour into momentum for career takeoff.
Published January 7, 2026
