Minneapolis Vocational High School - Tradewind Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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I'HROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS Dear Inside Classmates: If you are anything like we were when we were back there at Vocational, studying hard and dodging the Scholarship Committee, you are probably looking forward with some curiosity to the day when, as Vocational graduates, you will start out on your first job. First jobs give you a thrill, to be sure, and it does seem fine to be a real part of the business world, but. just the same, you will never realize how lucky you really are to be in school until you leave it forever and run up against some of the experiences that we have encountered. Some of our experiences have been happy ones, and some— not so good. At any rate, we think that you may be interested to know of some of the things that have happened to some of us. and may be able to learn a little about what you may expect when you. too. get out on that first real job. The Outside Seniors.

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one group pf the business girls and the electrical boys over to the East building. There, in what is known as the East Vocational School, these courses have flourished. A year later, the Tailoring course grew out of the need for soldier rehabilitation work, and a Woodworking course was also begun. In June of 1925. the hospital moved from the old building which had been in use into the two fine old homes which arc now occupied at 1700 and I7J0 Third Avenue South. Except for the two or three years after the war. the school has shown a steady, very solid growth. In spite of its poor housing and its meagre equipment, it has established itself as a real force in the city. Each department is working out its own problems, feeling its way more and more adequately into the needs of both the young people who need training and of the business of the city which needs trained employees. The prospect of the new building, which may be looked for by the fall of 1927. is giving added impetus to the work, and Vocational High School is looking forward confidently and courageously to the future. f)

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SS—I And so it is that wc arc giving you some of the news that the Outside Seniors have sent in to us. Laugh at the humorous events that they describe, sympathize with their difficulties, thrill at their triumphs and learn from their disappointments. One of the girls sends us the following description of the joys and trials of a nurse: I took «1k Nurses Course at Vocational and started on my first job in April. 1925. When 1 arrived at the home to which I had been directed. I found that I scarcely had courage to go in. After passing the house a couple of times. I finally mustered up enough courage to enter. My patient was an old lady, eighty-three years old. who weighed only seventy-nine pounds. She had no real ailment, but was dying of old age She was Scandinavian. and I am Irish, and. as she could speak no English, we had quite a time understanding each other. She would say something to me and then laugh at (he blank look on my face. 1 reported at work at eight-thirty and worked until one-thirty, receiving fifteen dollars per week as a salary. As this was my first position, you can imagine how independent I felt. Before my patient died. I could understand quite a bit of the Swedish language. I do not believe 1 shall ever forget my first position. The job I am now holding it a bit different. My present employer came to me and asked me to work for her. I am taking care of the most unruly child I have ever seen. My fin: day seemed like a hundred years, for my new charge kicked, screamed, and tore around until I was almost wild. Young man. thought I. I'll tame you before the week is out. The taming stunt started the next day. and now. at the close of the fifth month, he is a perfect angel when with me. but— heaven help his parents. It sounds to us as if nursing might be a job with a real kick in it. Lots of them, in fact. Now. here’s one that gives us a needles-eye view of the peregrinations of a dressmaker: Miss McAlmon started me out on a power machine job The point was that, although I was a dressmaker. I had had no power machine experience. When I reported at the factory to which 1 had been directed. I was put right to work making men's neckties, afrer a little preliminary practice in stitching. The machines used are very similar to electric sewing machines, except that they do not have bobbins It was very easy work, though oftimes during that hot summer I wished that there was a fan attached to the wheel. There was not much excitement save when a motor caught on fire, and the occasional ruining of ties when they became tangled in the machine. In September. Miss McAlmon sent me to a dressmaking shop, where 1 am now doing hand embroidery. The designs are very interesting, and working with the beautiful colors is very enjoyable. Most of the designs are Swedish or Norwegian. Tht work is very pleasant and 12