I don\u2019t know about you, but when I was a junior in high school, I didn\u2019t know exactly what I wanted to do for a career. I was focused on my classes and graduating \u2013 not really focused on what I would do for a living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Growing up in southern Illinois, a lot of my classmates did know what they wanted: many were headed to the farm or the factory after we finished high school. But those jobs weren\u2019t for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What did interest me was a program I heard about from a family friend, one at the local community college that focused on Power Plant Technology. That sparked my interest, and the more I learned about it, the more I was interested. As it turns out, the program was created by members of the local business community when they saw too few students pursuing careers in Illinois\u2019 energy sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working professionals taught these classes I joined, folks who were involved in the industry and gave us the skills we would need as a power plant technician. Not only that, but working with a career guide as part of the program, I was able to build my resume and find internships to get even more experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During my first summer break, I landed a paid internship at one of Illinois\u2019 biggest energy companies. This gave me hands-on experience in the industry I loved, all while still pursuing my degree. This helped set me up well, because once I finished the program and graduated, I had an associate\u2019s degree and a job offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After working in the energy sector for a few years, my employer noted a program where the company offered to pay for me to complete my bachelor\u2019s degree in the field. Even better, the program was structured in a way that, depending on how I did in the classroom, I could graduate with minimal college debt. I jumped at that opportunity, pushed myself in all my classes, and graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree and almost no debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This has been a wild ride since I heard about the program in high school, but I wouldn\u2019t change any of it. These opportunities led me to a great education and my full-time job in our state\u2019s booming energy industry. And for those who are interested, my company is still hiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n