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Andrew MacAdam
Carpentry Instructor
Right away, I knew I'd made the right decision.
Andrew MacAdam
It takes courage to change course mid-career; leaving a paying job to return to school takes tremendous commitment on the part of learners and their families. Andrew MacAdam made that choice nearly 15 years ago. He was working full-time supporting a young family. But something was missing. "The job just wasn't me. I was really unhappy," says Andrew.
He recalls how people reacted when he made the decision to enrol in the Carpentry program at NSCC's Lunenburg Campus. "There were people who asked me why I'd walk away from a secure job just to pursue something else that was so unknown."
But those who knew Andrew best supported his choice. His wife encouraged him to pursue a career that would make him happy and when times were tight, the couple's parents opened their homes to them.
NSCC's Carpentry program was the natural fit Andrew was looking for. "Right away, I knew I'd made the right decision," he says. "It was never an issue to study or prepare for tests. I was eager to learn, even beyond the classroom. I felt like a sponge."
With his wife's encouragement, Andrew registered as an apprentice and returned to the Institute of Technology Campus to earn his Red Seal certification. Now, Andrew's come back to the College again – this time as an instructor with NSCC's Heritage Carpentry program in Lunenburg.
Andrew never hesitates to offer students the kind of support and encouragement that helped him on his own journey. "I want students to experience the fulfillment that I have. I see so much potential in them and there is so much opportunity in this field."
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