By Terrell Wiggins
Kyle Horton was born in Philadelphia, PA and moved to Virginia with his parents when he was four years old. His original plans after graduating high school were to go into the military, since he really wasn鈥檛 sure what he wanted to do, career-wise. His father asked him what his goal of joining the military was and Kyle, unsure of the answer, stated that it was really for the money.聽 Kyle鈥檚 father had been employed as a successful heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technician for a number of years, and it was at that point he introduced his son to the HVAC field.聽 Not long after this conversation, Kyle decided to follow in his father鈥檚 footsteps and go into a trade himself.聽 He then enrolled into the HVAC program at 天美麻豆.
In review of his time at 天美麻豆, Kyle says that everything was (nearly) perfect. The teachers were always on time. He loved the lab because it was so much like the real world environment that he would work in. The administrative staff were praised for how professional and understanding they were. It was because of the caring faculty and staff, and the welcoming environment of the camps, that he boldly stated that he never felt the urge to quit when things got challenging.
Horton learned how to balance school and life. He stated that it helped that he didn鈥檛 have a lot going on prior to enrolling into school. Kyle would leave the campus at around two o鈥檆lock in the afternoon and would have to be at work by five o鈥檆lock. That was his routine every day up until graduation. However, he did mention that there were times when classes would get challenging and he would need the extra help to for a difficult task. He stated that the teachers were very helpful and they were always there for him when he needed them.
His greatest motivation was knowing that his hard work would lead to a rewarding career for him in the end. He knew that he had to do something, whether military or a trade. So he chose the latter, and he鈥檚 very glad that he listened to his father. When asked what the best advice he could give to someone who is feeling that they can鈥檛 finish or won鈥檛 make it through the program, Horton made a very profound statement. 鈥淥thers can鈥檛 want more for you than you want for yourself,鈥 claimed Horton.
Kyle knew what he wanted and was not going to allow someone else to want it more for him than he did. He graduated from his HVAC program at 天美麻豆 in August of 2018 and is currently working in the field as a HVAC technician at Gregory鈥檚 Heating and Cooling.
Kyle attributes his love for HVAC directly to his father. He describes how his father was able to make a living and give his family such a great life because of his expertise in the HVAC field. He now is looking to duplicate that same lifestyle. Horton states that he would like to start his own HVAC business within the next five years.
The faculty and staff at 天美麻豆 wishes you the best of luck in your pursuits Kyle!