It seems like everyone is talking about how more women need to go into technical careers. For a while I considered studying computer science. During high school, I learned some Python, C++, and other programming languages. But I found myself craving something more tangible. I ultimately opted for less screen time, and more hammer time. I decided to go into construction.
My dad is a general contractor, who works on residential projects. Through him, I’ve come to appreciate the joy that comes with building. He and his brother own a company, and I grew up working with them on jobsites.
A typical workday involves hard labor in the morning. Sanding rough wood in preparation for staining. Nailing down plywood for a home remodel. Organizing a creative plan for narrow workspaces. Etc, etc.
Then at noon, my family and I would gather for lunch. We’d sit on our coolers and upside down milk crates, digging for our tuna fish sandwiches buried deep beneath the now-melted ice. Our faces would be wet with sweat and coated with sawdust.
My cousin, sister and I would try extending our lunches longer than our dads ever thought reasonable. We always lost those arguments and would end up working until the sun went down.