Once Unaware of Any Option, He Now Has a Future Full of them
One month after graduating from high school, I found Orleans Tech, and one month after graduating from Orleans Tech I had a job doing real electrical work, making real money.
by Panna Kim, Orleans Graduate
Call it cold feet… or second guessing myself… or just being plain old scared. Whatever it was, last June I found myself suddenly unsure of the future of which I had previously been so sure. It was two weeks before graduation at the Philadelphia Military Academy. My sure-fire plan had been to get my diploma, enlist in the marines—a viable option to the college education I couldn’t afford—and ride that path to a great future. But something caused me to reconsider, and when I did I was overtaken by the attitude that I’ll only ever live once. I considered the reality that if I joined the marines, I’d start off in infantry—one of the most dangerous places to be—and I thought of my family. The decision I made would not only determine if I live a life that made me truly happy and fulfilled, but if I would maybe live at all.
So, there I was, at a crossroads and not seeing a best option for myself now. At least not one that I could afford and that would take me toward that fulfilling life. But then—again call it fate, luck or whatever you will—a friend introduced me to Orleans Technical College. I took a test, I took a tour and there I was. Suddenly not only did I have an option I never knew existed, but that one option could open up a ton of other options and opportunities for me in terms of a real, respectable career that would support me through life and make me happy, too.
My first mission was to focus in on exactly what trade I wanted to pursue. Something clicked with me and the idea of work in the residential and commercial electricity field. Plus, I did my homework and discovered that there are a lot of jobs out there in this line of work—good paying jobs that I could turn into a fantastic living. I also saw how having these skills could make me an asset to my family and friends. Within one month of graduating high school, I was enrolled in Orleans Tech’s Residential and Commercial Electricity program. Moreover, thanks to the dedication of the school’s financial services department, I was supported by scholarships and grants that cut my tuition in half and the job Orleans helped me to secure has me close to paying off the tuition already.
But it wasn’t just the knowledge and skills that I gained that brought me to where I am today. It was also the partnerships Orleans forms with area employers so that their students have a head start in finding jobs without a long job search or wait. They helped me to connect with one of these partners, who offered me a job which I eagerly accepted. I helped to do wiring for heating and cooling systems in temporary homes set up for people whose communities have been destroyed by natural disasters. I received a raise within a month, learned a lot, and now I’m working as an electrical contractor on a 3-year apprenticeship program. My family is even making out great because I’m constantly fixing and upgrading the electric at home.
As for what’s next, well, as I said, Orleans and my employers have given me so many more options than I ever imagined. I plan to continue expanding my skill set along the way and keep bettering myself as an employable electrician. I’m in a great place, I have plenty of room for growth, and my future looks wonderful. None of this would have happened without Orleans Tech.