Meet the Carpenter: Diego Rojas - "Be The Change You Want To See."

Coming to the US was with the goal to move forward in life. ⁠

I’m using carpentry to do that. ⁠

The Story of Diego Rojas.

I came to the US in 2010 from the Dominican Republic with my 3 siblings and my mother when I was 12.⁠

It was a struggle the first couple years.

I didn't know English or anyone here except my immediate family.

Getting into the industry was pretty straight forward.

I already knew what I wanted to do.

In middle school I knew about Madison Park Vocational High School because I lived near by it.

When the day came to pick a high school, I knew exactly which one to choose to learn carpentry.

I was determined.⁠

During my time at Madison Park, I became one of the top students in my carpentry class.

With the help of my carpentry teacher, I was awarded a scholarship to attend The North Bennet St School...

A school with a high reputation because of its excellence in craftsmanship.⁠

North Bennet's Carpentry Program was a 1 year program and I was able to learn everything from framing to finish.⁠

As I was part of a summer program in the National Parks Services called “Branching Out” I started doing landscape and preservation carpentry in different National Parks across New England.⁠

Ever since I started doing this kind of carpentry in the National Parks, I really started enjoying that part of preservation, working with old tools and practicing old methods of how things were done.⁠

The school and the National Parks noticed work ethic...⁠

And I was awarded another scholarship to attend the Preservation Carpentry program at North Bennet St.⁠

I graduated June of 2019, fresh out of school, 10 months into the trades and excited to put everything I've learned to work and keep growing.

What really excites me about the future of construction is that my position can't be replace.

As people see a lot of more jobs are getting automated the trades will be seen as more essential and respectable.⁠

It's an incredible feeling to just making things happen and grow with my craft.⁠