PHOTO DIARY

I'm an electrician.

A typical day consists of morning stretch and flex to get blood and oxygen flowing throughout my body, get limber and prevent possible injuries.  Then I find out what my journeyman or foreman need me to do.  We do a walk through the tasks to be done like install lights, install receptacles, pull wire, etc.  Then I do the job needed until it is complete.  I read blueprints to guide me and if I have any questions, I go ask. And if I don't know how to do something, I go ask.  Sometimes I will ask how they want the job done even if I know how to do it because it's really important to get the job done right.

As a single mom, I’ve always focused on my kids. I worked whatever job I could to make sure they had what they needed. The problem was, I couldn’t always make enough money. So I went back to school and got my bachelor’s degree. After school, I had a stable job as a bank teller, but I really didn’t see a future in it. Plus, my pay was still pretty low (and the job was pretty boring). I never thought I’d work in the trades, but one day I came across a flyer for Oregon Tradeswomen Inc. and called them up. The more I learned about it, the more it seemed like the perfect fit. The pre-apprenticeship course I took helped me learn about my options – fitter, ironworker, plumber. Now I’m an electrician and it pretty much rocks. I care almost as much about my tools as I do my kids!

Learning how to do build and install something makes me excited to do my job every day.  Also, I do something different everyday so it never gets boring.  The pay isn't so bad either!

My short term goal is to finish my apprenticeship and become a journeyman. My long term goal is to get more experience and become a foreman, then a general foreman and start my own business.