As a child, I dreamed of being a Travel Agent or Computer Engineer. The older I got, the more I realized I loved taking things apart and putting them back together, so I thought engineering would be the career I would pursue. However, upon touring New Castle School of Trades, I found HVAC to be very interesting, so that is the program I signed up for. The instructors at NCST were very helpful, and patient and were always able to offer explanations to the questions I had. Since I excel at the hands-on aspect, troubleshooting and lab projects were a great way for me to learn and understand. I am now an installation tech and service tech for Burn’s Heating and Cooling Company, Rochester, PA. NCST gave me the education on the how’s and why’s in order for me to be better equipped in the field.
As a single mom of 3, making the decision to go to school for a trade has paid off. I am able to support our family and love what I do as well. My boss is also extremely understanding about having a balance between work and family, which is why I am a loyal employee.
The sacrifice is definitely worthwhile. If you are thinking about it…just do it! If I can make it happen, then you can too!
Mahrya is a 2021 Graduate of NCST from the Refrigeration and A/C Technology Program. She obtained a Specialized Associate Degree, finishing up with a 3.68 GPA and a 96% attendance rate.