"For 15 years, I was a chef at some of the best restaurants in Detroit. It has its rewards, but it is a difficult career. You work whenever everyone else isn't, and if you don't work, you don't get paid. My father was an electrician at Local 58, but I never thought of pursuing the trade because I wanted to make my own path instead of following in his footsteps. I knew that after my wife and I married I wanted a career that could afford me the time at home that I needed and secure a future for us. I needed a change where I would get the pay I deserved for how hard I worked. I applied for the apprenticeship in 2019 and watched COVID-19 take over the world. I anxiously watched and waited, checking my phone every day for updates. Just over a year later, I got the email that I had been accepted into the program. Even as an apprentice, I have a better home life. For the first time in 15 years, I enjoy the summers, weekends and holidays. It isn't just me. My wife wants to pursue other dreams, and we could never do that on the budget of a chef. I am so grateful to be a part of an organization that makes sure we are all represented fairly and ensures good working conditions. But there is more. I am part of a brotherhood of skilled tradesman. My father always instilled in me that "A job worth doing is worth doing right" and that dedication to quality, to craftsmanship transcends to all aspects of my life. We need to instill that excitement into the younger generation, at schools and job fairs, to spread the word."