Kari Burton had already lived an interesting life by the time she enrolled in the Electrical program at WTC.  After serving 4 years in the Navy and working for a time as a server in the commercial food industry, she was seeking training for a career that would lead to good pay, benefits, and the potential for a comfortable retirement vs. a here-and-now type of “job”.  Although she enjoyed waitressing and earned good money, it was not fulfilling her needs.  To Kari, a job sitting at a desk all day in a cubicle would be akin to torture.  She is a doer, and enjoys working with her hands, as well as being able to move.  As she says, “I always knew I was not meant to sit behind a desk.  Doing 9 to 5 in a cubicle is not for me.”

Kari gauges her interest in anything by how she feels when she wakes up in the morning.  Almost immediately upon enrolling in the program in August 2017, she was eagerly waking up in the morning.  For once, in regard to school, she was looking forward to arriving at class and learning something new. 

Her experience with career and technical education was unlike her time in high school.  Learning to do something specific was far more interesting learning about things she felt she would never use.  While enrolled in the program, Kari participated in SkillsUSA and competed in the electrical category at the state level.   Kari excelled in the Electrical program to the extent that she was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society in recognition of her grades, attendance, and work ethic. 

Taking the Electrical program also opened Kari’s eyes to opportunities beyond residential and commercial electricity. Now working in a career as a maintenance mechanic at FedEx, Kari found time to give back to WTC by acting as a volunteer in the class where she learned so much.  Congratulations to Kari on her accomplishments.  You make WTC proud!