Want to make teenagers so irritated that their eyes roll to the back of their brains. Ask them this:
What are you going to do after you graduate?
This question from countless family members, cousins, grandparents, friends, almost never seems to get old for those asking.
When other upperclassmen were worrying about college, Zoey Quinton, an 18-year-old plumber, took an unusual but rewarding path. Quinton graduated from Holland Christian High School last year and went straight into the mechanical plumbing business. She previously took a tech class teaching her how to get into the plumbing profession and wanted to continue by finding a job in the future.
While learning how to do plumbing, there were multiple tasks that gave her a hint of what she was getting herself into. “There were good and great moments in my class mostly just because I didn’t want to stay in school all day,” Quinton said.
Quinton got hired recently to work at Berghorst, a plumbing company. “Currently I work at a plumbing supply shop, so I work 45 hours a week, 7-4. I go to work at 7 and help plumbers over the counter; I help key in orders into our system. I also work in the warehouse too, so I do a lot of different things there,” Quinton said. She describes her profession as a passion rather than just a job.
Working in a male-dominated field can bring up challenges. “Sometimes it can be kinda tricky to work with men a lot, which is not like men are difficult but, we think differently, feel things differently and experience things differently so what’s a big deal to them could be nothing to me,” Quinton said.
“There’s this one really iconic sign that says plumbers protect the health of the nation, which is actually quite true; all the laws and the codes that go into building a house or installing a water heater, a toilet, a lavatory faucet,” Quinton said. She then continued to say how that’s not just understanding mechanical techniques. It’s about knowing how to put pieces together, with years of experience, and book learning mixed in.
Quinton didn’t really find appeal in continuing into college after high school. “I just didn’t want to go to college. That’s what I knew about myself. I didn’t want to continue with academic stuff that much,” Quinton said.
Not all students want to continue on and submit college applications. “It makes me think about how grateful I am that not everyone shares the same experience and that we all are called to different places and that what I may be good at, others might not be interested or good at and that’s okay,” Quinton said. Quinton found an outlet through her profession, even though it’s hard work. She perseveres daily and continues to give an example of another way to most definitely succeed after high school.
“I think that’s beautiful. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made, and I don’t know why God called me to the trades profession but I’m here and I’m trying to serve him as faithfully as I can,” Quinton said. Quinton’s faith is important. She’s an avid Christian and knows that God called her current job.
“I’m proud of her for getting into the trades profession,” Quinton’s mom said.
Whether going to college right after high school or taking a route that Quinton did, there are many professions that may peak specific interests. It’s just a matter of taking that step into a job.
A tech classmate is proud of Quinton’s skills. “It was a joy to work with her as we both explored a field in which we had no previous knowledge, but had the opportunity to gain practical skills that can be put to use in our everyday lives,” Jemma Norkoi said.
A funny story Quinton faced on the job was not one to be easily forgotten. “This is not that crazy of a thing to happen to me while plumbing, but there was one time I accidentally cut a full water line that gave me an unwanted shower,” Quinton said.
“I loved working with my hands and I just felt so much better doing that than doing my schoolwork. Plumbing gave me an outlet to really progress and do well and to succeed especially after highschool,” Quinton said.
