Jump over hurdles towards success
In college, Hicks pursued her love of mathematics with a dream of one day working as a Pentagon codebreaker. But this dream was rejected by the college staff.
“My teacher said they don’t hire women to do this, and that I needed to focus on becoming a math teacher,” Hicks said. “My grandmother said to me: ‘This man doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Women do everything!’
Hicks decided to keep her options open and got a summer job at a paper mill in Alabama. I was impressed by how the on-site electricians incorporated mathematics into everything they did. One of the electricians, an IBEW member, told her how to sign up for apprenticeships.
As a single mother, the opportunity was a great fit for her: she was offered consistent hours, felt well compensated for her time, and built a well-paying career based on the skills she learned.
“It’s a commitment, but it’s a firm commitment, and you can build your life around it,” said Hicks, who has worked as an electrical contractor in the construction industry for 20 years. As of 2023, union members earn median weekly salaries of about $400 more than non-union members in construction, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
