Angelo moved to Vancouver Island in the summer of 2016 from a small town and high school with no available shop classes. As a student at Belmont Senior Secondary, Angelo was excited he had the opportunity to take a shop class. He enrolled in Auto Mechanics and found an interest in hands-on, physical work. He went on to take a welding course which sparked a passion.
WHY WELDING?
Angelo enjoys the variety of work that comes with welding; “I like the thought of bending metal, working with my hands and doing something different everyday… that really sparked my interest in it”.
TAKING THE NEXT STEPS
Currently in grade 11, Angelo is enrolled in the dual credit welding program with Camosun College. He will spend his next semester training hands-on on the college campus.
Angelo says his welding teacher, Corinna Zimmermann, is to thank for sparking this passion. Ms. Zimmermann not only taught Angelo the basics of welding, but also the professionalism and dedication it takes to start a successful career.
Angelo told his counsellor, Nadine Nicholson, about his desire to work in welding and she jumped at the opportunity to help him in his pursuit; “she got me started with going to Camosun and the steps towards that, getting ready for it and getting all the requirements”. Angelo also thanks the school counsellors for helping him get into a work experience position to complete the required hours to enter the dual credit program and for helping him with his course selection.
ANGELO’S WORDS OF ADVICE
Angelo’s advice for other students that are interested in trades is “talk to your counsellors and get them to set you on the right path”.
“I don’t feel like people should be nervous for this. It’s not the end of the world if you try it and don’t like it. There’s always other trades out there, there’s always other careers out there for you. Trades is so broad, you can really do whatever you want.”
