When Sara Ryan graduated from high school, she wanted to
become a commercial artist and work on television and magazine
ads. She took office jobs to help pay for college tuition.
When her daughter was born a year after her high school
graduation, Sara knew she needed to make more money.
Sara's mother told her about a 12-week pre-apprenticeship
program. Sara signed up and spent evenings and Saturdays
in class. She studied different kinds of jobs, math, carpentry,
and bricklaying. She even had physical training as part
of the program.
The program may sound like it wasn't related to Sara's
career goals, but it really was. "As an artist, you
have to do things – create things – with your
hands," Sara says. "That way you learn how everything
is connected."
During the program, Sara noticed metal-shaping machines
sitting in the corner of the classroom untouched. She asked
her teacher to show her how to use them. "I didn't
know anything about working with metal," she says.
"I just wanted to get the skills to find year-round
work. As soon as I put my hands on those machines, I knew
I would love metal work and machining."
A few months later, Sara had a new job cutting sheet metal
and cleaning parts. With help from her employer, she's
now in a machinist apprentice program. She's learning
how to read blueprints, choose the right tools, cut metal,
and use machines to cut and finish products.
"At some companies, most women get stuck in dead-end
positions," Sara says. "But I want to work in
the shop. With the right training and the right attitude,
I'm going to make that happen."
Sara
Ryan
