Andrew Siewert was somewhat of a tough interview for his grad transition exit meeting with BCSS career councillor Pam Storie.
He doesn’t readily volunteer a lot of information. So, in spite of the fact he is leaning toward Okanagan College for a trade certification, he would also make a good candidate to go to law school. He could help train the legal students how to handle uncooperative witnesses.
Once you do get him talking, he has much experience to share for his young age.
His is a familiar face helping out at Pines Bible Camp, he went to Mexico for 10 days in spring break of 2011 with the Boundary Community Church Youth Group to help at an orphanage, and his family went to Guatemala for five months where they worked on the construction of two houses for widows and their children.
“I helped to deliver food to a remote village once a month, volunteered at a soup kitchen, and other small projects,” Siewert said.
He was reluctant to go on the Guatemala trip at first, knowing he would fall behind in his classes. But in the end he says it was a valuable experience getting insight into different cultures.
His resume already includes working at Kettle River Campground last summer with a job at an Osoyoos motel prior to that and continuing today.
His plans weren’t firmed up yet when he did his exit interview, but he mentioned going back to school to earn a ticket as a welder or heavy equipment operator.
He said whether that happens this fall or in 2015 will depend, in part, upon what kind of job he gets in the meantime. If the paycheque is good and allows him to save some money, then 2015 might be the choice.
In the meantime, through courses such as Pathways, Fire Suppression 12 and Project Heavy Duty at BCSS, he has earned a fistful of certifications that will help him find employment. If the law school thing doesn’t work out, that is.