Deshawne Aytch
We proudly share Deshawn Aytch with you… #ieccpride
“As a teenager your main focus was friends, family, social life oh and of course school…
At the end of my high school career that’s when I felt it…like time was rapidly passing by and I was stagnant. Everyone around me making plans visiting colleges and there I was still asking myself “What am I gonna do when I graduate?” I remember Spring 2007, in my senior year of high school, and the TESST COLLEGE commercial came on and the guy seemed like he was talking directly to me he said “don’t wait to go to school, no do it right now!”
So, needless to say I dialed the number and set up a meeting that following Monday. I get to the meeting and the guy says, “what do you want to do with your life?”… I looked at him and said, “Well that’s why I’m here because I don’t know.”
He asked what I was good at I told him math and that I was good with my hands. Right then and there my fate was sealed -he told me “I have the perfect program for you.”
It was Electrical of course.
I remember that feeling I got in the school lab when I made my first light bulb come on. I had to explain it I would say it made me feel accomplished. Like I finally made it. I loved that feeling! Although I made it through the program top of my class with my electricians certification, the real world didn’t honor all the hard work I had put in. I was catching busses, trains, and walking miles every day to get to school, telling myself all this would pay off; however, after graduation I got discouraged when I couldn’t find a job in my field.
I worked meaningless jobs for a few years to pay my bills until I found out about the grow green jobs program which in turn introduced me to IEC Chesapeake. I absolutely blew them away with my knowledge and how quickly I could grasp the concept of being an electrician.
I graduated top of my Pre-Apprenticeship class and went on to do the 4 year Electrical Apprenticeship program at IEC Chesapeake. I learned so much- and am still learning now- but I think the moment I fell in love with this trade was my first lab wiring a receptacle to the switch that controlled a light bulb.
Honestly, I made a promise to myself that with everything I do I should chase that feeling- it’s also a plus to get paid for it!
I am now a licensed electrician running jobs, estimating and creating new work relationships. I’m very proud of how far I came, because where I’m from, just graduating high school was a blessing.”
You amaze us every day Deshawn! Thank you for sharing your story- and for letting IECC be a part of it!
Jenny Boone
VP IEC Chesapeake Business Development
#whatsurcircuit
