My family moved to Palo Cedro when I very young. I attended Junction School and later Enterprise High School. After graduation, I began working in construction, met my wife, and eventually moved to Sacramento.
While living in Sacramento, my wife and I realized we wanted to raise our family somewhere else, so we returned to Redding.
Working in construction presented challenges—the insurance was terrible, there was no paid time off, and the long winters made the work difficult. In my search for a career that would offer greater stability and opportunities, I discovered Shasta College’s water and wastewater treatment program, which seemed like a natural fit for my existing skills and experience.
Returning to school while working full-time and raising a young family wasn’t easy. I attended evening classes, balancing my responsibilities at home and work with coursework in subjects like algebra and chemistry. Once I completed those requirements, I realized I was already more than halfway toward earning an associate degree, so I knew I could finish what I had started.
After earning my associate degree and water and wastewater certifications, I was hired by Bella Vista Water District, where I started as a meter reader and worked my way up. I eventually earned my T5 water treatment certification (the highest level available in California) and have served as Water Treatment Superintendent since 2004.
One thing I hadn’t anticipated was how comfortable I would feel returning to school as an adult. I discovered that many students were over 30 and, like me, were pursuing an education to improve their futures. Being surrounded by people with similar goals made the experience much less intimidating.
Looking back, I would encourage young people to continue their education immediately after high school. It’s often easier to focus on school before taking on the financial and family responsibilities that come later in life. That said, my experience also taught me that it’s never too late to pursue something new.
Shasta College gave me the opportunity to turn my experience into a career, provide a better future for my family, and accomplish something I’m proud of!