Senior Dylan Byram is involved with an internship through Rockbridge County High School’s Building Trades program. He has learns and performs electrical, HVAC, plumbing, heavy equipment, and equipment operating trades. 

This program is a system built where a student take certain courses while going on and off campus for projects. For Byram, he has taken Building Trades 1 and Carpentry 2 and Carpentry 3. 

In these settings for various projects, he is tasked with a different environment rather than a classroom. The most work is accomplished throughout the county.  Across elementary, middle, and highschools in the areas of Natural Bridge, Effinger, and Fairfield, workers address many issues with faulty or malfunctioning pieces.

Mr. Kurt Bennett, previous Trades teacher and current faculties manager, thought highly on Dylan’s behalf from his in-person experience of instructing him.

“Last year, in class, he showed a lot of initiative to begin with. His direction already proved to me that if I give him a task or job, he will execute it the best he can and ask questions as he goes,” said Bennett .

The task of achieving this internship allowed Dylan to display his skill set. While he becomes more experienced on how to tackle issues and problem solve, he displays more dedication.

There is much in store in the following years for this student intern. As this internship program is geared toward a specific direction, there are opportunities in the future. He can either receive a trades job setting in the school system or reject it to find another similar job elsewhere in this field at the end of his pursuit. 

Bennett encourages Dylan to remain in the school system for his benefit and the school’s. 

“We need so many people like him; we do not have enough qualified workers and what it takes to maintain. Once you train, you want to employ them,” said Bennett . 

This high school alone has nearly 10,000 square feet, but, in addition, there are five other schools to be maintained. With so much to be addressed with little workforce, there is a stress put onto students growing in the industry. To have a warm, lit, inviting, and exciting atmosphere, maintenance is the key. 

Byram is advancing towards the end goal of working at RCHS with a positive mindset.

“In this internship, I go out and work with someone and get hands-on experience and get paid as an apprentice or intern. I think it is a good program and can be used to be able to hire more people because a lot of people right now are looking for a place to work,” said Byram.

Conclusively, the internships’s beneficial aspect is recognized by both student and teacher. It not only impacts Dylan’s own career and advantage, but also the school’s well-being. He plans to continue striving to attain the fruits of his labor.