Luana's Story

Luana is only a teenager, yet she’s already overcome serious obstacles. She is a student training to become a laborer and she’s also a single mom. Luana recently earned the Michigan Breaking Traditions Award for her work in Home Building. Her advice to others who have career dreams that challenge societal norms is “Never doubt yourself. If you get a feeling of pride from a job or task, it should make no difference if it is considered nontraditional.”

I moved to Michigan with my mom and older brother when I was 10 years old. Growing up my family has influenced me in so many ways. My older brother is my mentor and he has always treated me more like a little brother than a sister. My mom and my aunts also influenced me; they are eight-hardworking women who taught me the value of teamwork and uniting a family.

When I was in high school I learned just how much I needed their support when I got pregnant. The people at the school didn’t tell me to leave, but I felt a certain amount of prejudice from them. One teacher wouldn’t let me carry a water bottle to class or let me go to the bathroom more than twice a week during his class, which is quite a challenge at eight months pregnant. As hard as it was while I was expecting, I knew it would be even more difficult to continue at this school when I became a mom.

After my son, Jonah was born I enrolled in the Community High School. The school has a day-care center and I trusted that they would take good care of my son. Having access to day care was a huge help and although I hated to be away from Jonah, it was nice to know that he was being looked after and nearby. I also decided to enroll in the Construction Trades Program at the ISD Career Center and there was no way I would have been able to stay in the program without the help and support of the Community High School and their day-care center.

Managing my schedule can be tough at times. I get up early and take Jonah to day care then drive across town to the Career Center. After classes I eat lunch and drive back across town to the Community High School. It’s hard, but worth it because when I finish, I’ll have the skills I need to make the kind of life I want for Jonah and me. Besides, I love working as a laborer. After working hard all day, it is so satisfying to come home feeling like I’ve accomplished something. It would drive me crazy if I had to think on an intellectual level all day or work in an office everyday, like a secretary does.

In the Building Trades Program there are 30 boys and only three girls in the class, but that doesn’t bother me. I’ve always had male friends and my classmates treat me like one of the boys, guy talk and all. Some people assumed I’d have a problem with the work because I’m small, but my motto is to “never give up.” I work out and do strength training and I think through problems to make up for my lack of size. My teacher teases the boys in class and tells them they need to step up or step out of my way, which I think is kind of funny.

This year I was honored to receive the state-wide Breaking Traditions Merit Award. I’m really happy to have won such a high honor, but I don’t think I’m nontraditional. I just see myself as doing what I love to do. I’m still working toward a better future for myself and my son. I’ve registered at Delta College in the electrical program and I’m trying to get an apprenticeship. It hasn’t happened yet, but I feel pretty confident that I will succeed because people will respect me for the skills that I’ve developed. At the end of the day I would rather be hired for my abilities than for my gender. I don’t want to be a requirement they have to fill.