Bloomington High School North, Nikean, 2010, Page 170

Description:	Sophomore Nikki Smith is learning themantra anything boys can do, girlscan do too is, in fact, completelytrue. Smith is one of only two girlsin her Hoosier Hills Career CenterEngines Operations class of over 12 people. Shedoes the same work as the boys in the class.Smith learns about the parts of engines as wellas which tools you need to use to work on engines. Smith had a couple reasons for taking theclass. Apparently, the love of cars is in her blood.I like working on cars, and my dad likes working on cars, Smith said.However, when she signed up for enginesoperations, she had no idea what the automotiveclass would entail.Smith is learning the same material, taking theexact same tests, and completing all the othercomponents the class requires. Despite that, sheis not considered an equal in the eyes of many ofthe male members of the class.I feel a little outnumbered, Smith said. [Also,the boys in the class] think we cant do anything.Contrary to what the males in Smiths classappear to believe, womens roles in automotivework are on the rise. According to the DetroitNews, in 1989 there were only 6,000 womenworking in automobile service out of a total of880,000 mechanics. However, the number ofautomobile service and repair technicians wentdown to around 837,000 in the year 1999. Out ofthose 837,000, women made up 12,000 of themechanics. The number continues to increase.Smith tries to deal with the problems in herclass and work hard. She has a simple solutionwhen boys in her class give her a hard time.I out work them, Smith said.She has stuck with the class and even seemsto enjoy it. Smith is looking forward to when herclass finishes doing work from their textbook.When they complete their textbook learning, theystart working on actual engines, which is whatSmith wanted to do in the first place, even if sheis working with the boys.IBy Addy Smith(Above) During draftingclass at the Hoosier HillsCareer Center, senior AlexMinor works on an architectural design. This classhas really taught me thebasics that will help me get a[degree in architecture] fromBall State, Minor said.Photo by Emily Couper(Right) For her Landscaping Management class,sophomore Nikki Smithworks on filling pots with soil.I really like being able towork on any project we wantto, Smith said. Plus we getto go outside a lot; thats myfavorite part.Photo by Celine Lang170
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomnorth/id/6392
Collection:	Bloomington High School North

Further information on this record can be found at its source.