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Jamie McMillan shares skilled trades journey with high school students across Washington

December 4, 2020

Journeyman ironworker/boilermaker Jamie McMillan spoke to over 30 participants in her Dec. 2 presentation on careers in the skilled trades and her personal journey through school.  She will host a second presentation on Dec. 9, 2020.

McMillan struggled through school due to her learning disability, ADHD. She did not flourish in a traditional learning environment until electives like media and woodshop made her eager to get out of bed. However, her path was never that simple. She ended up dropping out of school.

After trying multiple careers and struggling through hardships involving her mental health, running into a high school classmate changed her life.

She immediately enrolled in an apprenticeship and got paid to attend school and work. McMillan succeeded and became an ironworker in 2002 when women only made up 2% of the skilled trade workforce.

Since finding her passion in the skilled trades, McMillan’s strived to share her story across the U.S. and Canada and started a nonprofit to promote careers in the trades. She speaks to more than 40,000 students, parents, educators and employers each year, and has gained international notoriety.

Her non-profit’s mission is to teach the young hands of today to build the world of tomorrow through apprenticeship, technical programs and the armed forces.

Learn more

If you missed McMillan’s first presentation, you have one more chance to learn more about the industry and Jamie’s journey through life and the skilled trades Dec. 9 from 12 – 1:30 pm.

This Career Connected Learning awareness opportunity is provided to students by the Olympic Educational Service District 114 and sponsored by BIAW, Kitsap Building Association, Jefferson County Home Builders Association, Olympia Master Builders and North Peninsula Building Association.

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