She arrived at Ternium in Manizales when she was 18 years old, today she is 24 years old, and is the only woman who works as an Electrical Maintenance guard.
For Yuliana Arenas, nothing is impossible, and what she puts into her head she achieves because she is a disciplined, competitive, dedicated, young woman who is passionate about learning new things. She is a Technologist in Industrial Electricity from SENA (National Apprenticeship Service) and arrived at the plant in 2015 as an intern.
“When I arrived at the steel mill I was surrounded by men, and honestly it was scary at first, but I like the story, the fieldwork, getting dressed, and as a woman, you have to learn to take your place and the guys respect me and have collaborated with me a lot. I think it also helps that I am a serious person and committed to my work and that makes things easier”, explains Yuliana.
Since she did her internship, she has stood out for being a restless young woman who is not shy about making questions, who brings new ideas and is always observing the work of her colleagues to know how things are done. That is how she began to make a difference and won the position to fill a vacancy in the Scrap Metal Preparation area, where she works as an Electrical Maintenance Guard. She is in charge of the repair, improvement, corrective, and preventive maintenance of machinery and equipment.
That mettle and character have also led her to take charge of her home since she began working to support her family, made up of Clara Rosa Arenas, her mother, and her brothers Manuela and Cristian, who admire her for her drive and commitment.
“I try to be an example for my brothers and my family and show them that one can overcome difficulties, and get ahead. Although I have one older brother, due to my character and maturity he sees me as his second mother and I have assumed an important role in the house, I am always there to put things in order and support them in whatever they need. Nothing in life is free, and if you want to get things you have to make an effort”, says Yuliana.
When asked about women’s roles, she does not hesitate to say that today's women are empowered. “It was time for us to be given the place we deserve and that we have earned because everything has been a struggle and I think that society is awakening in that regard and is realizing the important power that women have in all areas because we can handle everything”, adds Yuliana.
Besides work, Yuliana is a sports lover. She loves going to the gym and riding the bicycle. Her priority is to finish her degree to graduate as an Electrical Engineer from UNAD (National Open and Distance Learning University) and continue studying and preparing as a professional because her dream is to give her mother a house.