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June 23

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Jimmy McMillan: A Motor is Freedom

"Success doesn’t necessarily have to do with one’s technical background, but with attitude as well as confidence."

*As part of the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) family of schools, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) began operating under the UTI brand in February 2025.

“Some folks like to say technician. I still like to say mechanic,” Jimmy says, favoring this term in preserving the down-to-earth, dirt-under-the-fingernails spirit he fell in love with when he was a kid.

Jimmy McMillan is a Harley-Davidson instructor in the Motorcycle Technician Training program at Universal Technical Institute (UTI) Orlando, Florida.1

He can’t really put into words what he feels when he finishes a bike. But as he stands next to his bike in his shop, there’s no doubt he is in his element. He’s enamored with the idea you can transform a bike from nothing special into something spectacular.

“I grew up with the sound of a Harley in the background of my life,” Jimmy says. His father and uncle were in a motorcycle club. The family drag raced as a team. The roar of engines was the soundtrack of his youth.

Jimmy went to college for a few years. He loved the people but hated the studying. “My heart ran after hot rods.” Though he’d always been involved with motors, his mom wasn’t so keen on the idea of him going to school for it. In fact, she disowned him when he told her. “She was an anesthesiologist and she wanted me to go to medical school.” Jimmy laughs. “I wasn’t kidding myself,” admitting he didn’t have the grades or the attention span for medical school.

Once Jimmy was in school to become a motorcycle mechanic and his mother saw he was thriving, his mom had a change of heart. She was so proud when he graduated at the top of his class. She realized all that he had achieved.

As a kid he loved to take things apart. His grandmother fostered this sense of curiosity telling him there was always someone, somewhere, who knew how to put things back together. This encouraged him to dive in and learn how things worked and to ask for help when he needed to.

Though he had no fear diving in, his mother noticed he never finished projects all the way. There was always something to improve, make more efficient, make more user-friendly, and more comfortable. Though his mom recognized this trait early on, he didn’t see its significance until he was much older. Now he sees the trait in himself every time he’s trying to “finish” a bike. There’s always something else he could do to try to make things better.

Jimmy was one of the people who left his tiny hometown in search of something bigger. When you’re from a small town, everyone might know you and you might even be popular. But once you’re in a big city, you’re suddenly around a lot of people who know a lot. You might feel inadequate because everyone comes in with different levels of experience, sometimes even more than you.

Today, Jimmy’s not picky. He’s not just a motorcycle guy. He’s into anything that has a motor. “A motor is freedom,” he says. Bikes are just lighter and faster and can do a lot more than a car can, which is why he favors working on them.

Jimmy’s job at UTI is a perfect fit for him and he loves watching students start on a similar path to the one he did. He says success at UTI doesn’t come in a predetermined package.  “I’ve had students I thought weren’t cut out for it end up being some of the best students out there,” he says. He feels that success doesn’t necessarily have to do with one’s technical background, but with attitude as well as confidence. 


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1) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.2) For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures.6) UTI graduates’ achievements may vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on personal credentials and economic factors. Work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer and their compensation programs affect wages. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.7) Some programs may require longer than one year to complete.8) Does not include time required to complete a qualifying prerequisite program such as UTI’s 51-week Automotive Technology program.10) Financial aid, scholarships and grants are available to those who qualify. Awards vary due to specific conditions, criteria and state.11) See program details for eligibility requirements and conditions that may apply.18) UTI now offers all of its automotive, diesel, motorcycle and marine technician training in a blended-learning format consisting of online lecture courses along with in-person, hands-on lab training.39) Refresher training available to graduates only if the course is still available and space is available. Students are responsible for any other costs such as lab fees associated with the course.77) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary. UTI prepares graduates for entry-level careers using the provided training. UTI graduates’ achievements may vary. Some UTI graduates get jobs within their field of study in positions other than those listed.79) UTI aviation maintenance programs prepare graduates to apply and test for FAA mechanic certification. Graduates who don’t obtain certification may have fewer career opportunities. Some graduates get jobs in aviation or related industries other than as aviation maintenance technicians. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment, salary or FAA certification.128) UTI will pay for certain third-party FAA certification exam fees for qualifying students. See catalog for details and requirements.

Universal Technical Institute of Illinois, Inc. is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

*Registration Fee Waiver will apply to any student who enrolls by July 31, 2025, with a start date between March 31, 2025, and September 25, 2025.

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