Gerry, who is now a man in his 60s, was once just a young kid trying to make his way in the world.
Everyone has to decide the best way for them to earn a living and have the dignity that goes along with earning their way through life.
Gerry was certainly not the world’s greatest academic student in high school, and after graduation he really didn’t know what to do with himself. Then, one day, he remembered that one of his teachers had recommended to him that he think about learning a trade such as plumbing or HVAC. Since he was more interested in “being cool” than in “working in shit,” Gerry applied to the tech center’s HVAC course of study. Once he passed the state’s HVAC certification exam, he was able to land a job with a pretty decent heating and cooling company. He worked hard for them and was a diligent employee. The HVAC customers all seemed to have a soft spot for Gerry, as well. They enjoyed it when he came to their homes to fix their heaters and air conditioners. He was thoughtful and respectful and didn’t waste time. He got right to work on the a/c, and most of the time he could figure out what the problem was pretty quickly. The owners of the HVAC company took notice; Gerry joined the labor union and met other HVAC workers around the state. They all took notice of Gerry, as well. As a result of his good reputation with other HVAC professionals and the HVAC clients, Gerry moved up the ladder and got additional responsibility and a few pay raises.