For the longest time, Aleigha Lyons thought she would not go to college.
Lyons is from Lisbon, 北达科他, where her family owns an auto body shop. 她从高二开始在店里工作. 一年后, 在放假的一天, Lyons toured 澳博app’s campus in Wahpeton. The tour started Lyons on her current path as a first year auto body repair and refinishing technology student.
Lyons is one of the 2,942 females making up more than 43% of NDSCS’ total enrollment. 职业技术教育项目包括:1,334名女性，占入学人数的近35%. 职业和技术教育每年2月得到认可, calling attention to high demand fields like the auto industry, 建设, 电气技术, 暖通空调/ R技术, 管道, 焊接等.
莱昂斯说:“如果你在考虑这个问题，就去研究一下。. “不要害怕. 我吓坏了. 我知道这听起来很蠢. 是的，人们会看着你. They might not think you’re doing to do a good job because you’re a woman. 那就是你证明他们错了的时候.”
Lianna Jepson is a second year 电气技术 student. A fateful experience at Kennedy Secondary School, Fergus Falls, 明尼苏达州, redirected her priorities.
“I was peer pressured into joining a robotics club meeting after school,杰普森说, 微笑着回忆. “这真的激发了我一个新的方面. Before, I was very book smart, intent on being a math teacher. Now, I was working with my hands, critically thinking, looking at designs. 我研究NDSCS是为了(追求成为)一名电工. 感觉这是一条很自然的路.”
The most enjoyable, and constant, experience for Jepson has been retraining her brain.
“我上过很多不同的课. When I started this, I was so certain, ‘I’m going to be an electrician.“现在, 我发现真的有很多机会, 作为一个电工, 或者程序员, 或者一个估计量,她说.
Ivan Maas is chair of NDSCS’ building systems technology department, 包括电, 暖通空调和管道. A student may arrive without real world experience, but he or she won’t leave without it.
“Most of our programs, or at least the three I work with, heavily involve lab work,” Maas said. “The bulk of the equipment they work on is literally the same equipment they will work on and service when they get out in the industry. 不是训练师，也不只是虚拟的东西. 这是同样的设备.”
Peer-to-peer interaction is greatly important for career and technical students, Maas said. Sexism would be a hindrance, especially when capability is the driving criteria.
“不要担心别人怎么想,Carissa Gozdal说, 来自法戈的小松柴油机大一学生, 北达科他. “在diesel，没人在乎你是不是女人. 没有哪个老师或男生对我有什么不同. If you’re doing your work right, good, on time and efficiently, no one cares.”
戈兹达尔是一名被资助的学生, whose education will be followed by time with the company that helped pay for it. Students continue to look for and pursue opportunities to either assist with or redefine education choices.
Brooke Glynn is a third year 建设 management student from Fullerton, 北达科他. She has already graduated from architectural drafting and estimating, as well as being a member of the 北达科他 National Guard. It was through the latter organization that Glynn began her work as a carpentry specialist.
“我真的很喜欢. It was hands-on work that I decided to ultimately pursue,” Glynn said. “在经历了军队的建设之后, I went to look for a college that would provide me more opportunities.”
Glynn will graduate this year with a 学位 in 建设 management. She seeks to find a full-time job as an architectural drafter or assistant 建设 manager, 她一直在努力成为一名建筑经理.
“Don’t care about what other people think of you,” Glynn said to young women. “专注于你的行业，做你能做的.”
Terry Marohl是国家安全保障委员会交通部门的负责人. He is also impressed at the amount of camaraderie and interest in shared success among career and technical education students.
“We’re all about getting individuals ready for the workforce, with hands-on career experience. 当我们招聘的时候，我们是在为我们的项目招募学生. 各行各业的需求非常大. The opportunities are there, but the demand is greater than the supply,” Marohl said.
莉莉里德, 威尔玛大学焊接技术一年级的学生, 明尼苏达州, is another student whose mind was broadened when she got to try something new. 多亏了高中女生的焊接课.
“我想追求我的激情，做我喜欢做的事情. 我热爱我的工作. 如果我没有去一个更大的(高中), 我绝对不会参加现在参加的这个项目,里德说.
和她的同龄人一样, Reed sees making a career from a career and technical education program as of matter of doing what she enjoys and can see herself continuing to do.
“It doesn’t matter what field it’s in or if it’s men-dominated. 去向他们证明你自己吧。”里德说.
“Sometimes you’re put on a pedestal and sometimes you’re put down,杰普森说. 无论哪种情况，你都必须忠于自己的信念. You have to know what you want to do, know your job and do it right. 在一天结束的时候，你会赚很多钱.”
由Frank Stanko撰写的文章 《澳博app》 2023年2月1日.
