Editor's note: IndustryWeek recently teamed up with the Subortus Project on an essay contest for teens, run by teens. The theme was "How is manufacturing a part of your life?" We're pleased to announce the three winners and run their outstanding essays. Congratulations to Angelo Douglas, Arth Italiya and Sahkyas Paulino Santos!
From the start it has been a blur
who is he who is her
what is this what is that
how did I use this
how do I use that
my classmates seem to hiss, like a cat
but it's something new I must adjust
though these machines aren't new, they’re full of rust
will I be safe using these machines, I must trust
I look at the ceiling I see the ones who've come before me
and I wait to hear my teacher tell the stories
I listen closely to hear the hidden meaning
then I understand the true meaning of "machining"
"No whining in machining," this is mundane
hearing this makes it feel like rain
in machining there’s no side pieces
this is my main
without machining i would go insane
From the start it was T slots
I struggled and struggled
though with this struggle came knowledge
but this was only the beginning to preparing for college
We moved to using the milling machine
edge finding was impossible to me
but my teacher despises the negative words
"nothings impossible" he says
so I push on
I continue
I strive to learn learn learn
so that I can earn earn earn
for the education I now yearn yearn yearn
I FINALLY CAN DO IT
THE MILLING MACHINE IS EASY
but my teacher doesn’t like the word "easy"
it’s the mindset of a fool
because saying this word would result in a duel
... with a zero
this class keeps my mindset right
it’s my hero
I see the seniors begin to leave
how could this be
there’s more metal to cut
more drilling to do
you guys have always been here
but wait … I’ll have to leave, too …
this realization makes me go “boohoo”
because next year around this time I have no choice but to hit the hay
forced to leave behind what I had done every single day
cutting metal is now more serious to me
I try not to waste time on my projects
"less hablar, more trabajar"
is now drilled into my incessantly moving ear
I'm thankful for machining; without it I’d be lost.
Main photo: Angelo Douglas, 17, loves machining and is a high school student in Florida.
