Yeribel, GLTS Junior in Carpentry

When I went into shop for the first time at Greater Lawrence Technical School, I thought that’s for me.

It’s non-traditional for a girl to be in construction. Four of the 15 students on my team are girls. My family, the teachers, my classmates are all supportive. We talk about how there’s going to be people out there who will try to bring you down and I’m just going to need to push through it. 

I really like that we all work together and get along well.  We have great mentors in our teachers.  It’s so much fun being out here. We are here 6 hours a day, 5 days a week plus 2 hours a day in the classroom to prepare. It feels like a job.

Sure it’s hard working in the cold. My toes are freezing and even though we dress warmly the cold definitely slows us down. And I’m going to need my drivers license before I can start my co-op—that’s actually the hardest part for me, figuring out the transportation.

I’ve learned so much building this house. I used to be scared of tools. Now I just pick the tool up and know exactly what to do. We have been working on roofing joists and I’ve leaned how to install a wall with my classmates. Once we know how to do something it’s even better. At home I’ve fixed up my nightstand—I know which tools to use and what needs to be done. 

Some day I would really like to go to college and get a degree in architecture. I want people to see my work out there. For now this is right where I want to be.