Be the Person You Needed for Someone Else

To be honest, the journey to where I am today as an apprentice with DHT Electrical Inc. has not been an easy one.

While in high school it was difficult to get into a construction class because my guidance counselor thought I would not like being the only female, thought I was “too smart” and that I was throwing my life away. A year later, I was at school to become a powerline technician but I really didn’t like what I was doing every day. I would get anxiety attacks every morning and every night. I then started to wonder if I had indeed made the biggest mistake of my life joining the trades. I left that program and, although deep down I knew that this was the best decision for me, my mental health took a nose dive. I was lucky to have such a supportive family to help me get through that challenge and rise up to the next one.

During the last year of school in my program, there were faculty members who made my life very difficult. They did not like me at all and for what reasons I am not entirely sure. I was not fully accommodated for my learning disability even though I had all of the supporting documents to be accommodated. Then there were many other things that I am not quite yet comfortable to share publicly. My mental health spiraled once again and I lost a lot of weight due to the stress of this situation.

But with every bad situation there is always a bit of good and I would like to take a moment to thank the faculty members who supported me and offered guidance through these difficult times.

I recall a pivotal moment in my life when I joined a custom woodworking class in high school. That is when I really fell in love with working with my hands and where I realized that I could do this for a living. It was also there in that class that I met Jamie McMillan, who would become a mentor to me and a sister in trades. I am so thankful for that class and my shop teacher for helping me excel in the trades and put me on the path to where I am now. I truly would not be where I am or who I am today without this.

My biggest goal right now is to complete my apprenticeship and become a fully licensed journey person. I want to continue helping people get into the trades and specifically help women join the trades. My dream is to help create a world where people do not have to fight to get into the trades or fight for their right in this world. I would love it if I were the last person to ever go through the challenges I have been through. But I know that sadly I will most likely not be the last. Therefore, I want to be the person I needed throughout my challenges for someone else. Then I would consider my dreams reached.

About the Author: Dee Durant is a KickAss Careers Ambassador and an apprentice seeking to becoming a fully licensed journeywoman.