I’m a long-time local, licensed electrician, current Colorado Mountain College student and former Summit High School student. I had the privilege of volunteering my time with Summit High School’s Careers in Construction program through the Summit County Builders Association. This endeavor was for a leadership course I’m currently taking at Colorado Mountain College. 

I still remember a teacher telling me in 1997 that, “school isn’t for everyone.” Soon after that, I dropped out and worked in several industries and states before finding myself back in Summit County with an opportunity to become an electrician in 2017. 

The trajectory of my life and finding my vocation would’ve been wildly different had a program like Careers in Construction been offered back in the ’90s. My experience volunteering with them last month was a full circle and it showed me how vital programs like this are — not only to teach technical skills but to potentially spark interest in high-paying, in-demand careers that don’t necessarily require a four-year degree. We’ve all heard talk about the growing skill gap in construction, and programs like Careers in Construction, I believe, will help fill that growing gap.  

Supporting programs or initiatives like these aren’t just good for the students but they’re good for our community. They have the potential to build a stronger, self-sustaining workforce while keeping much-needed skills alive in our mountain towns. I’d like to encourage other tradespeople and local business owners to get involved with Careers in Construction by donating their time or materials and in the end helping create more pathways to success for the youth in our community.