b'Right:Brandon Lopez (right)andTarenceTullock cut woodfor their birdhouses.Opposite page:Jawari Akinolaof St.Marys measures a pieceof wood for his birdhouse.Amember of the second co- conversations about life in the 21st century with itshort in 2024, Tarence Tullock, digital distractions versus his days as a teen in thesees the financial opportunity that analog world of the late 1970s and early 80s.awaits him. I try to be a good influence, trying to help themIt means a job to me, Tullock start thinking like an adult, Hykes said. Ive beensaid during the class last semes- fortunate to be able to do what I did.ter. I really like this. Atechnical Hykesforgedacareerasaunionsheet-metalworker,career is my career.In the based on his experience with shop classes in middlelong run, Ill be able to build school and high school.St.Marys student Brandon things I never thought I could build. High school was my first exposure to sheet metal,Lopezexamineshispartially Tullock described himself as a hands-on person, and that propelled me to eventually get into Local 36completedbirdhouse. drawing inspiration to perhaps pursue a career in the and become a union sheet-metal worker, he said,trades from his carpenter grandfather and brother. He adding nothing but the grace of God put him onshowed his skills in the class last semester, designing, the right career path.building, and completing his birdhouse project before After high school and a couple of odd jobs, asothers in the class. he calls them, that grace came in the form of a phoneSimilar to Tullock, junior Norman Thomas also has call from a friend with a job tip.extended family in skilled trades, including a cousin He was an electrician apprentice. He called mewho works in construction and another in trade and said the sheet-metal union was hiring, Hykesschool. He also enjoys what he calls busy work, said. I said, Really! I had a little bit of backgroundhands-on creativity sparked by building with Legos in that, so I went down there and applied. Everythingas a youngster. He acknowledged that that creative went well, and I got in. The rest is history.play prompted him to take the shop class at St. Marys. In addition to 38 years with the union, that historyThomas showed his creativity in the birdhouse included being an instructor for an adult tradesprojectlastsemester.Hisgroupbuiltajumbobirdhouse, education program for the past 25 years. Thatabout the size of a medium-size delivery box. experience made him a natural fit for St. MarysThey had the design and put their own spin on it, when Hummel was looking for a teacher.Hykes said. I went from retired to doing this; I love it here atThe enthusiastic Hykes, 62, easily connects with St. Marys, Hykes said.the students, engaging before and after class in lively The feeling is mutual. \x0118Call1.800.348.4732'