Greeley West senior Iveli Arroyo has taken his love for cars to the next level by full painting his own truck, a project that was both a learning experience and a personal goal.

The entire process, from sanding the truck to laying down the final clear coat, took about three days. But for Arroyo, this was more than just a fresh coat of paint. “This project means so much to me because it was my first truck that I was able to build myself,” he said. ”I paid for all my parts and put all my time into working on it at home. I never sent it to a shop.”

The job didn’t go perfectly, though. Midway through the painting, unexpected rain rolled in. “Although it was under a carpet, it made the process longer since the air was humid,” Arroyo explained.” I overcame it by using various methods to help the paint dry and not get too affected by the rain.”

Arroyo’s inspiration came close to home. “My dad inspired me to paint my truck because he had previously painted two of his own, so he was there to help me and give me inspiration,” Arroyo said.

For students thinking about tackling a similar project, Arroyo’s advice is simple: don’t rush. “Take your time with each step. You don’t want your vehicle to come out halfway because you wanted to get done with it quickly,” Arroyo said.