Schalmont senior Hope Caufield was one of a handful of students asked to participate in a Women in the Trades panel discussion this week, sharing insights into her education and work in automotive trades.
Hope attends the Automotive Technician program at Capital Region BOCES, who hosted the event Tuesday. Students and professionals working in the trades spoke about their experiences to a room filled with students from local school districts interested in CTE opportunities.
Hope spoke positively about the support of teachers and classmates at Capital Region BOCES as well as her employer Capitaland Subaru. While she acknowledged the challenges of being one of the few female students in the program, she talked of the bonds she formed and encouraged other female students to “Just do it. What’s the worst thing that could happen? Just give it a shot.”
“I think it’s very important to be the change that you want to see,” Hope told the audience. “As long as you’re a good person, you’re hard working, and you’re kind, the world is out there. You can do so much. You just have to put your mind to it.”
Hope noted she has been accepted into SUNY Schenectady’s Nutrition program with plans to be a dietician. But she stressed the value of her experiences and the lifelong skills she’s learned, noting how even the communication and diagnostic skills she learned will help her in the healthcare field.
Absolutely inspiring, Hope!
