Before I knew anything about Co-op Tech, most of my family had a construction business and still do. My dad has been a big role model to me, and he has shown me all the skills and basics of construction, such as electrical, carpentry, plumbing, roofing, tile installation, plastering, installing dry/green boards, otherwise known as sheet rock, painting, floor sanding, and sheet metal. I thank him a lot for showing me these skills because it’ll help me in the future, not only for a job, but that I’m well experienced and familiar with the job I’m going to do.
Now this is where Co-op Tech comes in. During my junior year, I got selected for the Construction Trades program at Co-op Tech. It was the greatest opportunity for me because I have a chance to enter the union. I always wanted to be part of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, in other words, Local #3 Electrical. I really want to thank Mr. O’Brien for helping me find my passion and desire for electrical. Mr.O’Brien showed and taught me the basics of wiring, finding power sources, creating new outlet circuits, 3-4 way switches, and simple connections such as installing a switch circuit.
The Construction Skills program offered me a 2-5 year apprenticeship of learning and hands-on training. The materials we have learned about so far are nails/screws/bit sizes, thermal conductance, insulation, heat capacities for materials, and solar panel identification. We also got introduced to the building trades where we learned each different trade history. For example, Edward J. Malloy was the president of The New York City Building Construction and Trades Council and without his efforts there wouldn’t be any training or education about the trades history. There is more coming up for this apprenticeship that I am given, but the tasks and work is still unknown because the CS hasn’t given us more info yet. I want to thank all the teachers for pushing my limits and giving it all.