Masonry Class a Nice Surprise

By Tracy Farley
Gordon Cooper Technology Center

Nadia King never imagined that she would become a brick mason.

But life¹s path sometimes holds surprises, both good and bad. As a single mother of two young children, Nadia knew more education could lead to a better life for the future.

With guidance from Gordon Cooper Technology Center EAGLE Program advisors, Nadia reluctantly enrolled in the masonry program in August. "I wasn¹t sure I would like it at first, but now I love it! I wouldn¹t change for the world, now," she said. Nadia¹s story began in rural Seminole County. She grew up in the Strother area, raised by her grandparents. She attended elementary and junior high school at Strother School and graduated from Varnum High School in 1998. She worked in a nursing home four years. During the next chapter in her life, she had two daughters, and found herself working two jobs to make ends meet. She worked in a restaurant job and a casino job from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Then she went home to take care of her children. "I really did struggle there for awhile," she said. After two years of that rigorous schedule, Nadia decided to take a job offered through a temporary employment service picking up loose trash at a landfill. She stopped working at that job because of an illness and stayed with her mother and stepfather.

When her stepfather was killed in an auto accident, Nadia turned to TANF assistance. Through TANF, Nadia participated in the EAGLE job preparation program at Gordon Cooper Technology Center.

After going through some job readiness training, counselors advised

Nadia to start skill training in one of the GCTC programs. Since she likes the outdoors and manual work, Nadia was persuaded to try the masonry class. Nadia found that the class and the work suited her well. She also liked having her youngest daughter, age 3, close by in the GCTC Early Care and Education facility.

The fact that Nadia is the only female in the masonry program has not presented any problems.

"The other students treat me like just one of the guys. They respect me, they help me out and my instructor is awesome," He said.

Nadia plans to stick with masonry and work as a construction laborer after completion of training next December. Over time, she hopes to learn the business side of masonry and eventually become a self-employed contractor.

"Masonry turned out to be a nice surprise for me," she said.