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Change Comes in Time
When I first heard about YouthBuild St. Louis/Soulard, it sounded "cool," and as I've participated in it for the last five months, I've discovered I was right. I can still remember the day when I had gone to pick up my grandmother from work. I had the radio on full blast when a commercial came on about a GED program that paid its students and gave them the opportunity to learn a construction trade. I immediately knew then that YouthBuild would be the program for me.
One reason I thought I'd like the program immediately was because I like construction work. Working with my hands on things around the house, or starting something new, always has been exciting for me. My grandmother frequently would call me and say, "I need my garage door rehung," or "Would you fix my back yard fence?" I always responded, "No problem." She really got me interested in fixing things and working around the house
When I got to YouthBuild they put the icing on the cake. The construction trade training they offered is very helpful, and the work site instructors are very knowledgeable. They provided me with all my tools and showed me a lot of patience.
As part of my construction training, I worked on several projects dealing with rehabbing apartments. My jobs have included hanging and taping dry wall. I have also learned how to build a garage using masonry techniques. For example the crew I was with laid the concrete foundation and built the walls from the ground up. We also laid shingles across the top of the roof using the nail gun. When the project was finished the garage was a perfect place to park your car. My best learning experiences have been painting and applying interior trim work. These two areas of construction will be my expertise in the future.
Another reason I immediately thought that YouthBuild was the right program for me was because I didn't have a high school diploma, and I sensed that I would need additional education in order to further my construction career. YouthBuild also promised to help me obtain my GED certificate. I had been to enough high schools to know that school was not a place for me; I had interests in other areas. YouthBuild has disciplined me to stay focused on the things that will benefit me later in life job readiness and getting me ready for job placement with improved interview skills. I knew right away that this program would work for me.
My experience with YouthBuild has confirmed my original thoughts that it would be a cool program. YouthBuild offers a lot of fun events such as participation in the Soulard Mardi Gras. I never had attended Mardi Gras before and Soulard had a terrific celebration. The streets were full of people, dogs, cars, costumes, and a huge parade. I thought it was one of the best events I had ever attended. Another event I really liked was the YouthBuild retreat at the Trout Lodge Resort. This is a very nice resort where we got nothing but, fun, peace, and quiet. We slept in cabin-like apartments that were really cozy. The resort was a vacation waiting to happen. I have really enjoyed myself at YouthBuild.
YouthBuild has been a home away from home for me. I, my peers, and the staff have created a unique bond. The program has really changed my life and given me a different perspective on life. I strongly encourage people that meet the requirements to come and give it a try; you will not be disappointed.
The author is a 20-year-old future construction coordinator.
