Student Profiles

What convinced you to sign up for a program at the Career Center?

My Junior year at MUHS I felt really lost with the first year of COVID and everything. I looked around and saw the role that the Essential Workers were playing and really wanted to do something important working with my hands. I didn't know anything about Automotive Technology but thought it would be good to learn, plus my stepdad is in that line of work. My friends were really skeptical of going into Auto as a girl. They weren't unsupportive, they just didn't know what to think. But I really like being outside the box and hands-on so I signed up.

What did you learn by doing a Co-op?

Literally everything. When I came here, I knew nothing; I knew how to turn on a car but that was about it. Now I run a bay by myself at County Tire. I get work orders from the front desk and do the required work by myself. If there is anything I'm not sure about, I can ask Steve or a mechanic near me for a second opinion.

What did you learn about yourself by doing Co-op?

I feel like I'm not the same person. I can remember the moment when that happened. I was in the tire room at County putting away tires, and it was hot and I was sweaty and some of the tires are really heavy and the racks are over my head. Steve (the owner) said that they would like to offer me a position if I was all-in and felt like I could do this work and I thought, yes, I can do this! I didn't think that I was a risk-taker, but I can see now that I am. Also, the guys that I work with have been impressed with what I can do. I have confidence now that I never had before.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to attend Lincoln Tech in September for Automotive Technology. After that, I originally I thought I would like to work in a dealership but now I really like the atmosphere of a smaller service center. I like turning wrenches and working with my hands out back in the shop, but I can also see where the money is. I may want to work up front when I get older or my body can't handle it any more, but I want to stay in the shop as long as I can.

What convinced you to sign up for a program at the Career Center?

At the time, I had been thinking that I wanted to go into marine biology. But my dad was in the contracting business and that was something that I wanted to pick up more of. The class really helped me redirect my plans and goals. Something I'd really like to do now is own my own business, which wouldn't have been very possible in marine biology.

What did you learn by doing a Co-op?

Co-op really helped me solidify my understanding of the basics of house framing. Proficiency in tool use is really important in construction. I came in with some prior knowledge, but it really helped me solidify and apply that. For instance, not just knowing how to use a tool and to use it safely, but also when to use one tool instead of another.

What did you learn about yourself by doing Co-op?

I learned that co-op and construction is more of who I really am than what I had been going for. It has given me more opportunity and formed relationships with other people. I've learned that social skills are as important as running a skil saw.

What would you recommend to someone thinking about Co-op?

Definitely do it! Its a great opportunity to learn what the outside life is really like. It gives you free time to test something while you're still in school and learning. You find out if you really like a job before you spend years in college preparing for it.

What are your plans for the future?

I'm planning to attend the 2-year Construction Management program at SUNY-Morrisville.

What convinced you to sign up for a program at the Career Center?

I had a friend recommend it so I took a pre-tech program at PAHCC. I like tools and machines and have always enjoyed building stuff. But being able to use the tools and machines at the Career Center was really different.

What did you learn by doing a Co-op?

Co-op has taught me to use different strategies for building. The work in class involves a lot of multi-step projects where you are finding a solution. In class the pressure to get something right is mostly from yourself. At co-op, there isn't a lot of pressure, but you're always aware of not taking too long or getting things exactly right for the customer. It is a different kind of pressure.

What did you learn about yourself by doing Co-op?

I've learned that I like variety. I work better if I'm not doing the same thing over and over. Sometimes I build the same type of bike that I've built before and then it is enjoyable to get better at it, but mostly I have variety at work and always enjoy figuring out new things.

What are your plans for the future?

I am looking at some technical colleges but I'm not too sure. I'll probably pick up more hours at RAD over the summer and take it from there.

What convinced you to sign up for a program at the Career Center?

I visited the Career Center with our whole class and had a friend in Design and Illustration. After our visit, I talked with my friend and the guidance councilor to set up shadowing my friend for an afternoon. I really liked the class and decided it was something I wanted to do.

What did you learn by doing a Co-op?

I got to learn more about the process of silk screening and learned about what it takes to run a business. Ross at Graph-X talked with me about how to develop an artistic vision; how to share with a client when something doesn't look right and still meet the client's goals. I also was able to get advice on how to improve my own business and learn about important things which will help me in the future.

What did you learn about yourself by doing Co-op?

I think that in doing a co-op, I learned that I really enjoy the idea of running my own business, and the aspect of creative freedom. I saw that being part of a community is important to a successful business and is something that I feel I can do well.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to move to get into the fashion industry and hopefully be able to have a successful clothing brand one day.

What convinced you to sign up for a program at the Career Center?

I wanted to take Introduction to STEM my sophomore year because I saw other students making things like Tesla coils and I was kind of dazzled by what they were doing. After my sophomore year, several of my friends were taking Industrial Fabrication and Design. I ended up taking that for 2 years.

What did you learn by doing a Co-op?

Well, I had to teach myself a whole new CAD/CAM software. They use a different software system at Mechanical Advantage than we use at school, so I had to teach myself that. I also learned how to be careful; how to really think things through so that you make them right the first time. I also learned about really carefully inspecting parts to make sure they are perfect and your machining processes are right.

What did you learn about yourself by doing Co-op?

I learned I don't like repetitive work; I like work where I'm challenged and can focus on problem solving and finding solutions. I also learned about multitasking. There is a lot of that some days and that is important not just as a machinist but as a worker in general or as a person.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to work at some other shops. I think there is a lot to learn from how different people approach the same problem. I also want to try some of my own projects.

In November/December I'll apply for some colleges for next year, especially the Hague University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam.

What advice would you have for someone considering classes at PAHCC or someone in a class here considering Co-op?

If you're not looking for academia, like art history or an Ivy League school, you should try at least 1 PAHCC class. Its not for everyone, but it can be so much more rewarding than a class at the high school. You end up with something to show for your work, something real that you actually want to save and not some assignment you'll ditch once you have your grade.

In terms of co-op, go and visit the place first, see what the people are like. If you don't like it, you'll want to be in class with your friends. If you do like it, you'll really nail down your skills by doing co-op and have exactly the skills that industry is looking for. You also build skills that apply to other classes at school or college.

What convinced you to sign up for a program at the Career Center?

I was really interested in the subjects. I took computer science my junior year and construction technology my senior year because I'm really interested in both areas. I learned about the courses through my guidance counselor and by reading the course catalog for school.

What did you learn by doing a Co-op?

I learned what it is like to be out in the field. On a job site you have to be more precise because you are making something for a customer. In the classroom or the lab at school, you're there to learn, so it is different. The best part about Co-op was meeting and getting to know people who actually do the kind of work that you'll be going into.

What did you learn about yourself by doing Co-op?

I learned that I really like a job with options. One of the companies I worked with gave me lots of different situations on different days and I enjoyed having different options.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to work in Construction. I have a job for one of the companies where I had Co-op and start two days after graduation. I also think I might like to learn more about plumbing or electrical work at some point