After graduating from high school, McAllen resident Cain Ballesteros took the step many young people feel is expected of them; he enrolled in college. But after a year and a half, he realized college wasn’t for him.
Ballesteros tried to find his calling through a number of career paths, including certified nursing assistant, but none felt right. His dad, Arturo Ballesteros, a master electrician for over 40 years who manages and operates Art’s Repair Service, often invited his son to go on calls with him. The younger Ballesteros realized he enjoyed the work, especially the problem solving and hands-on aspect of it.
“Being out on calls always presents something different,” Ballesteros said. “There are always new challenges and problems to solve.”
For seven years, he worked full-time under his father’s guidance. It began to weigh on him that his father would one day retire. He felt the desire to begin preparing to take over his dad’s business when that time came. Although he had gained valuable experience over the years, he had never received formal training on the intricacies of electricity.
One day while at a supply house, Ballesteros noticed a Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement flier advertising VIDA’s training for the licensed electrician career pathway.
For nearly 30 years, VIDA has provided financial, professional and emotional assistance to residents of the Rio Grande Valley who want to move from low-paying, often dead-end positions to careers in high-paying, high-skilled, high-demand fields. The program’s wraparound approach incorporates individual and group counseling and strong relationships with its educational partners. This helps students bypass the roadblocks that often prevent them from finishing certifications and degrees.
Lighting A Path
Ballesteros had an epiphany. If he was going to take over the family business one day, he would certainly need to be a licensed electrician. He called VIDA and gained acceptance into the program.
That was two years ago. Ballesteros has now graduated from the Level I and Level II commercial electrician training. He is also registered under the National Center for Construction Education and Research, a globally recognized credential. Furthermore, he earned his OSHA 10 certification, demonstrating completion of 10 hours of OSHA-authorized training in critical workplace-safety topics. Ballesteros has also earned his OSHA 30 certification, in-depth training that teaches supervisors and workers how to avoid safety and health risks on the job and covers workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities.
The road for Ballesteros wasn’t always smooth. Now married and a father, the journey required great sacrifice from him and his wife and discipline, working during the day and attending school at night. When he enrolled, the McAllen class did not have enough students to proceed, but determined to do this, Ballesteros enrolled in the Brownsville program, which required him to drive there four nights a week.
Full Steam Ahead
Ballesteros is now eligible for the Journeyman Electrical License Exam. His training, through VIDA’s program, has given him the knowledge about electricity and how it works and the National Electric Code, the United States standard for safely installing electrical wiring and equipment; the ability to read blueprints and to troubleshoot; the skills needed to work safely; and the confidence to put all of this into practice.
Now well on his way toward becoming a master electrician, Ballesteros couldn’t be happier. An added incentive is that his father’s company has seen an increase in business recently. Ballesteros is thankful to VIDA for its financial assistance with tuition, books, tools and gas. He said VIDA’s case manager and career counselor helped him stay motivated and focused.
Ballesteros now feels ready for anything!