Over 200 young women in Grades 9 to 12 in Huron and Perth counties were presented with a career option most of them had not considered.
A skilled trades event in Stratford Wednesday was hosted by the Avon Maitland and Huron-Perth Catholic School Boards and their community partners.
The guest speaker was Jamie McMillan, the founder of Journeyman, and an iron worker and welder by trade. MacMillan told the students she had always enjoyed working with her hands as a child but ever considered it as a career.
Once she did, she found it was very lucrative, but more importantly, it was what she really enjoyed doing. She urged all of the young girls to take shop classes whenever they get the chance to find out if it's something they enjoy.
McMillan explains after high school she tried more jobs like personal support worker, working at Tim Horton's and several other service industry jobs but never really enjoyed any of them.
An old friend suggested she apply for an apprenticeship and it changed her life as well as paid her while she learned.