Fredi, GLTS Junior, Electrician

I’ve wanted to be an electrician since middle school. I like being on a construction site, being active; I’m always moving around and there’s always something new to learn.

When we started our first rotations at GLTS we had a rotation through home services. We would make house visits with electricians to make repairs like an outlet or a switch or a fixture that wasn’t working. That could be because of a shortage or a loose splice or something else that meant there waste’t a good electrical connection.

Here I’ve done all sorts of work. I’ve installed home runs, which are the long cables that return to the main circuit breaker panel. I’ve installed three-way switches and outlets. This week me and my partner started measuring for recessed cans. And in addition to the electrical work we make sure we keep a clean environment— that’s construction, we gotta take care of where we’re working. I like all of the electrical work, although I really like the finishing work after the inspection is done— putting on the plates and the receptacles and seeing everything completed.

There’s a lot of math— like doing a box calculation and figuring out how much wire you can put inside a box so that there’s sufficient free space for all of the devices that will be in the box. Our teacher Mr. Kennedy has taught us all of this; he’s easy to understand and shows us what needs to be done where.

School was hard on zoom. Trade is basically all hands on, so learning online is difficult. Once we were back onsite, the days went quickly.

I’ve also been working with my dad and his company, RJS Construction. We do landscaping, masonry, driveways, patios, stone walls. My dad is always on me, making sure I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. 

Next year, as a senior, I want to be on co-op. So every other week I would be working and the alternate weeks in classes. When I graduate I want to continue the trade and get my Journeyman’s license. It’s a process— from Apprenticeship to Journeyman to Master Electrician. It means after high school I’ll still be taking classes while also working. I’m looking forward to it— it feels good to be creating a place that someone will call home.

—Fredi, Junior in GLTS electrical program