As a teenager, my most profound moments of tranquility and connection occurred during shop class. Yes, you read that correctly: shop class—the realm often dismissed as a refuge for misfits and those deemed unlikely to succeed. We were told this was the place where future manual laborers learned basic skills with power tools. But I never quite understood the stigma associated with it.
For me, shop class represented a sanctuary of joy amidst a day filled with abstract concepts like equations, historical timelines, and other academic pressures. Given a piece of wood, a saw, and some tools, I found solace. In those moments, all my self-doubt vanished, and it was just me and the materials: cut here, drill there, apply some wood glue, and voilà—a tangible creation emerged from what was once just raw material. A simple box, a bird feeder, a shelf for my collection of glass animals. Each creation was a glorious testament to my capabilities.
Fast forward 35 years, I find myself navigating the challenges of single motherhood after separating from my spouse. I moved my children from a spacious family home into a smaller rental that desperately needed renovations: shelves in the kitchen, bedrooms, pegboards for coats, and new showerheads in the bathrooms. Surprisingly, I didn’t see these tasks as burdens but rather as opportunities—thank you, shop class.
In our former home, the closets lacked even basic hanging bars, let alone shelves. After considering pricey professional options, I opted to roll up my sleeves. I measured the spaces, ordered materials, and with the help of a young friend, I built the closets myself. I tackled the kitchen renovations solo, all thanks to the skills I picked up in that seventh-grade shop class.
Power tools shouldn’t intimidate anyone, and it’s disappointing that so many schools have cut shop classes from their curricula. Every child, regardless of gender, should learn practical skills like hanging shelves, drilling into drywall, and performing basic repairs. Every adult should at least own a drill, a saw, and a fundamental toolkit. I was recently excited to discover the “Coolbox”—a futuristic toolbox featuring Bluetooth speakers and a whiteboard!
For the five years I lived in that home I renovated, the shelves I built remained steadfast, even as my marriage fell apart. Each morning, as I reached for my clothes and cereal bowls, a sense of pride washed over me: I made these! If I could create shelves in one home, surely I could rebuild my life from the ground up in another.
Recently, I purchased wood for a new art project—mixed media flowers on plywood, a form of therapy for me. However, I miscalculated the dimensions and had the lumber cut to 2’ x 4’ instead of the needed 2’ x 3’. But thanks to my trusty saw, measuring tape, and a pencil, I tackled the mishap without a hitch. Just like in shop class, I assessed what needed adjustment, measured precisely, drew a line, and got to work.
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In summary, my experiences in shop class taught me not only valuable skills but also the importance of resilience and creativity in overcoming life’s challenges.
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