At only 18 years old, Jaymee Lynn is already framing her way to success. Jaymee just graduated from high school in Port Coquitlam in June and is already working full-time as a carpentry apprentice for a local construction company.

Jaymee always knew that she wanted to do big things after she graduated. But she never thought she would be a carpenter building houses at such a young age.

When Jaymee started Grade 12, she was unsure of her career path. After working with her Riverside Secondary classmates to build a shed for the annual Bright Nights holiday event in Stanley Park, she knew she had found her passion. While working at the event, Jaymee was inspired by a conversation she had with other trades workers. After being part of this special event and learning about trades from the people she met, Jaymee was inspired to pursue carpentry.

After the event was complete, Jaymee returned to school, met with a career counsellor and by the second semester, she had transferred from Riverside Secondary to Terry Fox Secondary to take the Ace-it program and follow her dreams of becoming a carpenter. Terry Fox Secondary offers exceptional trades training programs for students. Jaymee then completed the first of four modules of formal training for her carpentry apprenticeship at Kwantlen Polytechnic this past summer.

Jaymee’s future plans include work, work and more work until she logs enough hours and completes her training to earn her Red Seal Journeyman Carpenter certificate. If Jaymee keeps up the hard work, she will soon have her ticket. Jaymee is building a bright future for herself and is an inspiration to young women who want to follow their dreams and work toward successful careers in the trades.

On Sept. 21, 2016, Jaymee joined the Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond, Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Linda Reimer, and representatives from the Industry Training Authority and Coquitlam school district for an announcement on youth trades training in British Columbia. Jaymee shares her story in hopes that it inspires more young women to get into the trades industry.

Read more B.C. student success stories.