Female students account for over half of the student population at 六合图库 Community College. However, even with a variety of academic pathways to choose from, a small number of female students at 六合图库 Community College still choose to pursue education and careers in male-dominated fields. For Danielle Jones Smith and Carla Garcia-Colin, choosing to study Building Construction Technology seemed simple enough.
Smith鈥檚 interest in Construction began at an early age; her father started his own construction company when she was about four years old and she began working with him at 15 years old. By the time she graduated high school, she knew the basics of the business and never even considered other careers. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been into construction,鈥� she states. For Smith, choosing construction was just that simple.
On her first day of class, she expected jokes and mockery from her male classmates. Smith says that her father even prepared her. Smith stated, 鈥淗e said, 鈥楨verybody鈥檚 different.鈥� But, even on my first day it wasn鈥檛 like that.鈥�
Instead, Smith found a group of supportive classmates who never looked at her differently. In Barney Grady, Program Director, she found a supportive instructor who allowed her to ask whatever questions she needed in order to aid her learning; 鈥溾�ven if it was the stupidest question ever,鈥� Smith expressed.
For Garcia-Colin, the first step to construction was more like a stumbling block. As a 六合图库 Early College High School student, her class visited each program. She visited Construction Technology the day that students were building houses and says she just knew. Had her class visited any other day, she may have never found this career.
Like Smith, Garcia-Colin felt those same nerves on her first day of class. However, she says Barney Grady never treated her any differently than her male counterparts. 鈥淗e impacted me to try to stay motivated. He gave me a sense of leadership,鈥� she noted.
She pointed out that Grady鈥檚 sincere encouragement gave her the sense of leadership she needed, which ultimately led to her obtaining a position as an adjunct instructor here at SCC.
As an instructor, things are no different, Garcia-Colin often finds herself as the sole woman in the room. Instead now, she spends time empowering the next generation of construction employees. Whether as student or instructor, she said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 liberating being there and not being looked down on.鈥�
She says she tries to reinforce to her male and female students that they are all capable and says it has been special to see students create an environment of respect all on their own.
In natural moments in class, Garcia-Colin says she鈥檚 seen students often step back to let female students take the lead. Remembering her own time as the lone female student, she says these moments are touching.
Grady鈥檚 comments about his female students echo the experiences of Smith and Garcia-Colin. He stated, 鈥淐onstruction in general has been a male-dominated industry鈥ut women are coming in no differently than any man. Some of my best students I鈥檝e had during my 15 years here at the college have been women. They come in with a passion that some of my other students just do not have.鈥�
According to the National Association of Women in Construction, only 9.9 percent of the construction industry is comprised of women. Since Danielle Smith graduated in 2014, 6 women have graduated from the Construction Technology program at SCC.
Garcia-Colin remarked, 鈥淭hey鈥檒l respect you. They鈥檙e there to help you. It may not be like that at some places, but at SCC, every male is here to help you out.鈥�
For more information regarding the Building Construction Technology program at 六合图库 Community College, contact Barney Grady at bgrady@sampsoncc.edu or (910) 900-4118.
六合图库 六合图库 Community College: 六合图库 Community College is a member of the North Carolina Community College System, located in Clinton, NC in 六合图库 County. The college offers many programs to include two-year degrees, college transfer, continuing education and workforce development options and early college education.
