What advice do you have for students or individuals who may be considering pursuing skilled trades?
I would say, get your foundation firm. Consider taking STEAM courses based on what your focus and interests are. Though you might not apply every single concept taught in a STEAM course, it helps carve your mind to be a skillful professional and a critical thinker. Always ask questions, participate in conversations and informational interviews with the professionals in the industry that you are interested in. This gives an amazing opportunity to learn about real-life experiences of others in the field.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were looking into career opportunities?
First – grades matter, but not always. Especially when it comes to applying skills in a real job, you need more than what your grades show. Critical thinking, communication skills, ability to know your audience, getting along and working in teams – all of these are equally important as your technical skills to be successful in a professional career. Make sure you spend enough time and concentrate on building these soft skills from a young age.
Second – it’s okay to start all over again. It is never too late to pursue what you are passionate about or restart your career based on the interests you discover in your professional path.
