Jennitsia Rodriguez
Snug Planet
Cohocton, NY USA
"Instead of being scared of something new that I’d have to completely change my outlook and perspective on, I came in and thought, ‘This is something I want to learn.’"
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Jennitsia's work combines: Engineering, Technology, and Building Things
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Day In The Life
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I initially went to school to pursue healthcare—I thought I wanted to become a doctor or nurse.
2.
After realizing healthcare wasn’t the best fit for me, I transitioned to law enforcement.
3.
I spent about a year and a half in law enforcement before deciding that it also wasn’t the best fit for me.
4.
A friend’s dad introduced me to HVAC after I expressed interest in joining a union for electrical work.
5.
Since starting in the HVAC industry, I’ve gotten to do heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical work—I really enjoy working hands-on to build and fix things.
6.
I’m currently in the middle of completing an HVAC apprenticeship and also go to school two nights a week at Monroe Community College.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
You won't be able to carry your weight and keep up with the men.
How I responded:
This is a common sentiment in any construction-type field. People think women can't perform as well as the men. You have to take that step to prove yourself and show that you're capable of handling as much as anyone else. When I first started in HVAC, I was nervous because I didn't know much, but it was just a matter of changing my mindset from "I don't know how to do this" to "I want to learn how to do this." After shifting my mindset and learning from my foreman, I was welcomed like family.