Taking a woodworking class at the Eliot School wasn’t my first choice.

You see, I attended Greater Egleston High School my senior year and every Wednesday was dedicated to our real-world learning class. I ended up at the Eliot School as the only girl in the woodworking class.

I was intimidated because I was surrounded by teenage boys and men. The only other female I saw was Lillian, one of the program associates, when she would pop in and out of the office at the back of the shop. I had put furniture together before taking the class, but I had never made anything from scratch.

At first, I was nervous about the machines. Have you ever been in the shop when they’re running? It’s so loud! But as I became more comfortable with the machines and my projects, I started to feel more confident. I realized I was at ease when I no longer felt the need to ask questions before doing something. I knew what to do and what machines to use. I also started to feel good about what I was making.

I was encouraged to be an assistant teacher for the Summer Program for Children, where I could build on my newfound confidence. I had never been to summer camp or done anything like that. I found myself helping kids learn about woodworking, sewing, visual arts, and mixed media. I really liked encouraging the kids to create art and feel good about it. I always let them know there are no expectations with art, they get to create and be themselves.

I was then asked to continue as a teaching assistant during the school year. I now help with the Career Pathways in Carpentry & Craft program as well as other youth woodworking classes.

It’s a little weird to be teaching people I went to school with last year, but it’s also really cool. And I think it’s good for students to see someone their own age in the shop. Last semester, there were three girls in the class, and this semester half of the new sign-ups for the class were girls from my high school. I’m more confident in the shop now that I’m teaching others and it’s fun watching students complete their projects.

I never expected to still be at the Eliot School helping other students learn about woodworking, but that’s the great thing about the Eliot School. There are so many classes in different mediums and instructors who share what they know, which makes it easy to feel like you can make something. The Eliot School is very accessible. You just have to show up as yourself and do it.

Sincerely,

Ashley Veliz

Shop & Facilities Assistant

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