If anyone would have asked me one and a half years ago or longer if I thought I would
ever attend college I would have answered "no" without hesitation. I have
surprised myself by deciding to attend college. Since beginning college in the fall of
1997, I have changed my educational goals and plans. I came to TCC to learn the HVAC
(heating, ventilation and air conditioning) trade. I chose HVAC because thermodynamics and
electricity interest me. Because I dreaded taking college courses I was anxious to
get the courses over with. I feared not doing well academically, especially since I hadn't
taken a formal course in many years. I dropped out of college during my freshman
year in 1979 due to lack of interest. Now that I have re-experienced learning through TCC
I find myself not wanting college to end. Although I came to only attend the three full
time semesters required to get a one-year certificate for the TCC HVAC program I have
decided to continue taking courses at TCC next fall part time towards a 2 year degree in
Industrial Science. I have even taken up toying with the idea of going on for a 4 year
degree in Engineering or Industrial Technology. To continue to learn new information about
HVAC I regularly attend one day educational seminars, mini-courses and workshops that are
put on by local chapters of national organizations specific to the HVAC industry. I have
also become interested in computer electronics. So I may delve into some courses related
to electronics in the near future. I enjoy attending college and will continue to leave
open the possibility of furthering my education via college.
My career plans are to have my own HVAC business within three years. Womyn owned and
preferably 100 % womyn operated. It is important that I gain sufficient ability and
knowledge about servicing, installing and designing HVAC systems to be able to compete
with other HVAC businesses. Before opening my own business I want to be very competent.
Although schooling gives me an edge over other technicians, I feel I need at least three
years of field experience before I would feel comfortable and competent enough to open my
own business. In the interim I am working part time for a local, independently owned
HVAC company. This will change to full time at the end of July 1998. If I don't feel as if
I am getting enough experience or getting enough of the different types of experiences
that I feel are necessary to prepare me not only for the required state licenses that I
must have to open my own business, but also to become a competent technician I will leave
the company I work for now to pursue a progressive, larger organization that can offer
other things to me. If I decide not to open my own business, I will have enough schooling
to provide me the possibility of managing an HVAC system in an industrial setting.
I champion the cause of animal rights because animals are the most maligned, abused, and neglected members of civilization. The most important thing that can be done for animals on an individual, daily basis is being a vegetarian. I was an avid fisherman and committed omnivore before I understood how animals suffer at the hands of humans. I have read, over the past several years, extensively about the wrongs done to animals and now that I know about animal suffering and how it can be prevented or at the least alleviated I am an ex-fisherman and a committed vegan. If you're willing and open minded enough to explore the realities of animal use and abuse visit PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) website for more information.
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The contents of the individual pages of faculty, staff, and students are the responsibility of the authors of those pages and do not necessarily represent the official position of the college or of any of its divisions or departments. Updated 11/03/98