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Prepare To Work
You’ve researched your school, and you’re ready to get started. What can you expect that first day, week and year? You’re preparing for a job, right? Well, the job starts now.
“When you’re in the classroom, I’m your teacher. When you’re in the lab, I’m your boss,” says Bob Lacivita, a former career and technical educator and administrator at North Montco Technical Career Center and a longtime Family Handyman contributor.
Your pay may be a grade instead of a paycheck, but that will change in no time at all. Work hard, ask questions and listen — your instructors are experts in their fields.
Career and technical educators like Lacivita take their commitment to teaching the next generation of tradespeople seriously. Show up on time and ready to go on Day One, and keep it up throughout the program.
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Balance Your Time
Speaking of work, it’s OK to have a job while you’re in trade school, but it’s important to strike the right balance.
If you’re the primary breadwinner in your family, you have different constraints than an 18-year-old fresh out of high school. Think about how much time you can devote to school and work, and plan accordingly. Depending on the school, you may be able to go part-time.
“Trade school programs typically offer both full-time and part-time courses to accommodate student needs,” Wilson says. “Many students work part-time jobs while attending school to gain practical experience and offset tuition costs.”
If you’d like to focus your attention 100% on learning, see if your school offers scholarships, grants or work-study programs, or has someone to help you navigate federal student loan programs.
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Dress Comfortably
Trade schools offer accelerated learning, so classes won’t just be sprinkled throughout the day. You’re going to be at school all day long, so dress comfortably. No, not in pajamas, although I had a kid in my apprenticeship program who periodically showed up in his jammies. It was not a good look.
On the other hand, this isn’t a board meeting. Leave the suits and ties at home.
Luckily, you don’t have to buy a new wardrobe. “[T]he attire that we require is items that most individuals will already have,” Wilson says. If you’re unsure, an outfit of jeans or work pants, a clean shirt and work boots is always a safe bet.
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