One light-bulb moment steered Elise to the skilled trades
Taking a course in the Career & Technical Education Program lit her path to becoming an electrician.
When she graduates in June, Elise plans to pursue a career in the skilled trades. We recently spoke with her to learn why and how she came to that decision.
LCH: First, tell us about your co-op placement.
ELISE: I’m at an electrical company that does both residential and industrial work. I wanted to get some hands-on work in the trades, just to see if it was something that interested me.
LCH: And has it done that?
ELISE: Going into Grade 12, I had no idea what I was going to do. I had ideas here or there, but nothing really stood out to me. Both my dad and brother work in the trades, so pursuing that option was on my radar but not at the top. Then with this co-op, everything fell into place.
LCH: What changed for you?
ELISE: I took the Green Industries course (part of the Ag/Tech stream in the Career & Technical Education (CTE) program), which helped me look at different trades, like welding, mechanics and agriculture. One day, our class learned a little bit about electrical from the pros. I immediately thought, ‘Yeah, that’s what I want to do.’ I surprised myself by how sure I was!
LCH: Did the news surprise your family?
ELISE: My parents knew I was interested in the trades, so when I made my decision, they said, ‘Yeah, we can see you doing that.’ Then, I told them I wanted to be an electrician, they thought it perfectly suited me.
LCH: How has LCH prepared you for your future?
ELISE: The Green Industries class really influenced my decision on what to do. Not only did I get to try different trades to see which one would stick, I was also certified in lockout and electrical hazards through the course. That’s huge because I need that certificate to become an electrician.
LCH: What’s next for you?
ELISE: I plan to enrol in Fanshawe College and earn my Red Seal. When I’m a certified electrician, I hope to focus on residential work. I started this year a little chaotic with no clue what I wanted to do. I see now how God led me the whole time.
