The Machine Shop
A two-week machining project at his girlfriend's father's shop turned into a life-changing decision — when Michigan State finally came calling, he'd already found something he loved more than farming.
Machine Shop While working in the moving business, my girlfriend's father asked me if I would like to come to his machine shop to do a machining project for parts for garden tractors. I would receive $.25 per hour. This was supposed to be a two-week project, but there continued to be work that I was asked to do. After a few more weeks the business had picked up and I was offered a raise to $0.50 per hour, and I decided that I would stay. I had applied to several colleges to attend their agricultural school, but my grades were not great and I was competing with a lot of returning veterans who were on the GI Bill, and they had higher priority. I did not hear anything, so I assumed that I was not accepted. However, at the end of August I received a card from Michigan State telling me that I was to report to a dorm at the beginning of the semester. By this time, I had lost interest in farming and began to enjoy the machine shop activities, so I did not go to Michigan. I enjoyed the time at the shop. There were many challenges and I was allowed to set up and organize some of the projects. This was great because I enjoyed the work and learned many things that I had never experienced before. However, about a year later, the work slowed down and he had to let me go.
