When I was a kid, I was more fascinated by the boxes my toys came in than the toys themselves. I’d stack boxes, Lego bricks, and even trash cans to build little apartment complexes. Then I’d step back and think, I built that.
My mom noticed that spark in me. She’d take me to construction sites and let me tinker with tools around the house. I’d take on small projects, building whatever my imagination came up with. That curiosity and love for creating things naturally led me toward construction.
In high school, I took shop class. My brother introduced me to his soccer coach, who also happened to be the construction teacher, and I joined his class. I adapted quickly and even started helping my classmates. If someone was scared to use a saw or drill, I’d step in and say, “Try it this way.”
Some people freeze up because they’re afraid of messing up. But I’ve always embraced mistakes. A mistake can lead to a happy accident — sometimes you stumble on something new that way.
One day, an executive from Clayco, a design-build construction firm, came to speak to our class. His name was Dan Lester, and he talked about the Construction Career Development Initiative (CCDI), a program that exposes underrepresented communities to careers in the construction trades.
As Dan spoke about envisioning your future and the opportunities in construction, I couldn’t help but notice the way he carried himself — confident, respected, and grounded. I thought to myself, How do I want to live? Seeing him convinced me that construction could be my path forward.
Finding my way into the trades
After I graduated high school in 2015, I started as a concrete laborer. For four years, I helped build bridges, hospitals, and research labs.
Then COVID-19 hit in 2020, and I was laid off. That’s when I switched paths and became a pipe fitter — first as a laborer, then a journeyman, and now an apprentice with the Local 562 Pipe Fitters Union.
The trade is hands-on and practical. You don’t need a college degree to get started. You go to a training center, which feels a bit like a two-year college experience. There are night classes once a week where you study welding, blueprints, math, and OSHA. But the best part? They pay you to learn. After that, it’s a five-year apprenticeship, earning while building your skills.
Pipe fitting gives me confidence. It’s a skill set that’s in demand everywhere, and it plays a crucial role in keeping businesses running smoothly. It’s challenging, not everyone can do it, and that’s what makes the work meaningful.
My three biggest lessons for anyone considering the trades
1. Know your why.
Before I got into construction, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Then my cousin — a lively, high-spirited plumber — asked me, “What’s your why?”
For me, it was my mom. We were homeless while she was battling breast cancer, and my brother was away at college. She somehow made everything feel okay, but I knew I never wanted to experience that kind of instability again.
If you’re lost, start there: figure out your why, and the next steps will become clearer.
2. Progress takes time.
The trades can be lucrative, but you have to climb the ladder. When I finally started making good money — $33 an hour — I got laid off, and then the pandemic wiped out my savings.
I had to start over at $15 an hour. To make ends meet, I hustled. I worked Monday through Sunday, doing DoorDash, Instacart, and odd jobs for friends and family.
Now, I’m a fifth-year apprentice and will become a journeyman in June 2026. As a journeyman laborer, I once made $101,000 in a year. Once I officially journey out, I’ll be able to earn over $110,000 annually.
3. Don’t let fear hold you back.
When I was juggling school, work, and CCDI, I was scared the entire time. But my mentor and the program had my back. They gave me the support and system I needed to succeed — as long as I showed up and did the work.
If I had let fear stop me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’ve learned that as long as you keep moving forward, even if the future is uncertain, things have a way of working out.