Our High School Intern Gets an A+
Clock-in time for many in the trades is 7:30 in the morning. But for our carpentry intern Eric Cardoso, it’s something that always comes after 30 to 40 minutes of waiting. “My mom has to bring me early to have enough time to get my sister and bring her to school,” explains Eric, who came to KCB from Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. “So usually I’m sitting at the shop, just on my phone, until 7:30 hits. Then we get to work.”
Eric describes a typical day for him during his internship. “At 7:30, I get up and put my stuff away. I go over to the clipboard to see what I’m doing for the day.” The apprentices, as well as the rest of the KCB carpentry team, find their assignments there - anything from cleaning the shop to sanding pieces of cabinetry to stacking wood.
“Each apprentice makes a batch of push-sticks for the table saw, using the same design Kevin had when I started in 2005. In addition to making a usable end product, this is a training exercise where the apprentice learns to use the drill press, band saw, jig saw, edge sander, and trim router,” explains KCB shop foreman Owen Russell.
“I don't really mind cleaning,” Eric explains.“But I like using the sander. I want to get better at that.” KCB interns and apprentices have the opportunity to get hands-on experience. They come into the program through a variety of connections.
Kevin Cradock Builders has been working with MPTVHS for 15 years. Madison Park is the only technical vocational high school located within the city of Boston and is part of Boston Public Schools. They have myriad vocational programs. In their freshmen year At Madison Park, students explore all programs and choose between Automotive Technology, Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting or Health Assisting, as well as Cosmetology. There are also programs in Design and Visual Communications, Graphic Communications, Radio & Television Broadcasting, Information Support Service & Networking, Marketing, Programming, and Web Development, Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Carpentry, Electricity, Building and Property Maintenance, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Plumbing, Metal Fabrication and Joining Technologies.
Eric’s experience involved transferring from a different school. “The electrician program was full,” he explains, “so I’ve been in carpentry since my freshmen year. Usually, kids get to go around and see what shops they like, and then what they’d like to stay or major in. Because I transferred late from a different school, most of the different vocs were full. My first choices involved carpentry, and there was room in the program.”
Arriving from Cape Verde when Eric was in fourth grade, he was surrounded by family growing up here.“My uncle from Cape Verde was a carpenter. I used to hang around him a lot. Help him.” Eric is one of those kids who was always fixing things around the house so it comes as no surprise that he pursued an education in the trades. Although quiet, Eric is quick to smile and proudly relates that he earned an A+ grade for his internship at KCB.
To earn this grade and credit from Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, Eric created a Capstone Presentation about his participation in the Apprentice program and what he learned at Kevin Cradock Builders, including reading plans, using a table saw, using a chop saw, and working with the jointer, among other pieces of equipment. Eric participated in the String Lab with Nathan McBride and wrote about that experience as well. KCB’s Corey Nuffer assisted with the Capstone project by sharing photographs she’s been taking of Eric and the other apprentices in action all year long and worked with him on creating the presentation.
We’re grateful for the time Eric was at KCB and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
Photos by Corey Nuffer.