As Jordan Lester packed up to leave campus on his last day of the Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC) program, he reflected on his experience and stated, “The smartest decision I ever made was coming to STC.” He enrolled in the HVAC program in January 2023 and now, just seven months later, and only a week after completing the program, Jordan is starting his brand-new career as an HVAC Technician at Cool Today Air Conditioning Repair and HVAC Services.
Jordan got his start in HVAC while doing hotel maintenance work. He was responsible for basic plumbing, painting, and other varied maintenance duties. One day, Jordan was tasked with cleaning the air conditioning system. Though he had no HVAC experience, he decided to attempt the job and found it to be unexpectedly enjoyable. “I was surprised at how much I enjoyed working on the AC system and thought, this could be a great career.” After doing some research, Jordan signed up for the next HVAC class at Suncoast Technical College.
Jordan says the program was rigorous and challenging but feels well prepared for his new career at Cool Today. He attributes his new skill set not only to academic book and computer learning, but also to the hands-on, real world training that STC provided. “I feel like after all of the education I’ve had, throughout high school and, also while I was in the military, I learned the most from Mr. Diaz. He is really committed to preparing his students for the real world.” Jordan is also looking forward to finally getting a paycheck again and not having to worry about huge student loan debt. “Ultimately, it depends on the individual, but I feel like paying for a 4-year degree and then landing a job that pays enough to live and also pay back student debt vs having a career in less than a year with no student debt is a no brainer.”
Article By: Laurie Dillon