James trades up to a great career

James Sokalski

An aspiring Masterton mechanic travelled to the UCOL Trades Academy in Palmerston North each week to help bolt together a career in engineering.

James Sokalski said he had always enjoyed "welding and all that stuff" and he leapt at the chance, he said, when a Makoura College careers teacher recommended mechanical engineering as a vocation.

The Palmerston North UCOL programme paved the way for Mr Sokalski to achieve NCEA Level 2 at college, while during the last school year also devoting time at the Trades Academy each week to his career goals.

Mr Sokalski said he had a long-time home project repairing a damaged Toyota Hi Lux that needed mechanical and cosmetic work.

Mr Sokalski attended the Trades Academy throughout last year, never missing a day.

"I got into it, I couldn't stop and I'm back this year. I love it.

"Until I started I'd never done engineering of any kind but now I'm doing it full time."

Mr Sokalski flourished in the adult environment of the Trades Academy, building a vice, a can crusher, a bush punch and an electrical tool box for his equipment.

He also learned aspects of machining, fabrication, welding and modelling.

He achieved his National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering together with NCEA Level 2 and credits towards Level 3.

"I got a qualification while still at school and it was all paid for. Who wouldn't want that?"

Mr Sokalski plans to complete repairs on his Toyota and had decided on working as a designer for a major engineering company.

Kelly Gay, Trades and Technology executive dean, said only 30 per cent of secondary school-leavers enter degree study.

"We see our job as providing options and pathways to help make sense of the confusion before a student leaves school without knowing what to do," he said.

"It's so important to create an environment where they grow and mature and make decisions for themselves.

"The Trades Academy is an exceptional idea which is now paying off.

"Students are staying longer at school and are doing better because of the day a week they spend with us.

"They've gained life experience, extra maturity and can make informed choices," Mr Gay said.