For many students, summer means time off. For rising senior R.J. Mitchell, it means gaining valuable industry experience while building a future career. A Welding Technology student at BCTC and a student from Boyertown Area Senior High School, R.J. is spending his summer working full-time through a co-op placement at East Penn Welding. 

Working Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., R.J. has embraced the early mornings and fast-paced environment of the welding shop. While the days start before sunrise, he says the opportunity is well worth it.  "I'd rather do this than just sit around. It's a good experience in the field, and I'm going to need it later. Plus, I'm getting paid for it." 

Since starting his co-op, R.J. has been helping fabricate steel storage racks used for battery applications. The project requires precision, with each rack needing to stay within an eighth-inch tolerance, so the completed units stack properly. The team is producing a batch of 60 racks, and R.J. has experienced every stage of the manufacturing process—from welding the legs and center bars to assembling the completed racks. 

The work demands accuracy and attention to detail. Each rack contains dozens of welds, and maintaining quality standards is essential. While there have been challenges along the way, including adjusting parts that needed to be reworked, R.J. says those experiences have been valuable lessons in problem-solving and craftsmanship. 

R.J. credits BCTC's Welding Technology program for preparing him for the opportunity. Although transitioning from the classroom to the workplace comes with a learning curve, the skills he developed at BCTC gave him the confidence to succeed in a professional setting while continuing to expand his abilities. 

The co-op experience has reinforced his passion for welding and provided insight into the expectations of the industry. He hopes to continue working with East Penn Welding during the school year while completing his senior year at BCTC. 

When asked what advice he would give students considering career and technical education, R.J. offered simple but encouraging words: "Join it. Worst-case scenario, you don't like it—but you'll still have the experience." 

BCTC's Work-Based Education Program allows students to apply their classroom knowledge in real-world workplaces, helping them develop technical skills, professional habits, and industry connections before graduation. Experiences like R.J.'s demonstrate how career and technical education prepares students to enter the workforce with confidence and a competitive advantage.