Industrial & Engineering Technology: Carpenter
Industrial & Engineering Technology
Carpenter:
Daphne Henion
by Mike Yoshiura
"It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World" ~ ��,,�� Ever heard of the song? James Brown, 1966. It ends with, "But it would be nothing, Nothing without a woman to care." 2006: we've come a l~ong way, baby. Not only are women here to care, people like Daphne Henion have been tearing down the gender divide that has traditionally kept women out of male career bastions.
Breaking Into A 'Man's World'
Daphne is among just 10 women out of 1,780 carpenter apprentices who belong to the Hawaii Carpenters Union Local 745. This young trailblazer is paving the way for other gals in an industry that's still predominantly male. With passion in her eyes, the Kaneohe native says, "In the beginning, people told me I couldn't do it, and it just motivated me even more! I stay motivated knowing that I can do things the guys are doing."
Henion, aged 20, is on track to become a full-fledged journeywoman in 2007. A journeyman carpenter makes about $32.75 an hour. As an apprentice, she earns about half of that. "Being a member of the union is great because there are so many benefits."
A Journeywoman's Journey
To become an actual journeyman is indeed a journey, taking 8,000 logged hours of apprenticeship. Daphne already has 2,200 hours under her belt. Her pay increases with the number of logged hours. As an apprenticeship requirement, she also attends a 5-hour class every Saturday at Honolulu Community College. Instead of makeup, Daphne comes home with layers of encrusted dirt on her face. "It feels so good to come home and wash off the dirt! In a sense you're just washing the day away. You put up with a lot!"
Teen Regrets
Henion came from a single parent household with two siblings. Her mother worked long hours, which left her unsupervised. Daphne got pregnant at 15. Her daughter Jubilee arrived the following year. "I hung out with kids like myself who had all the time in the world, but no direction!" As a result, she dropped out of Kailua High School, which she regrets. "When you drop out of school, you really want to go back because you miss out on the proms and all that other good stuff." In 2002, Henion completed her GED (General Educational Development) credential, a high school testing program for adults.
Building A Life Foundation
Having indentured into the Hawaii Carpenters Union in 2003, Daphne is now building her life foundation. "I want to complete this program because I've never really accomplished anything like this before. I can see myself doing this 10 years from now…. My daughter is all the motivation I need. It feels really good because I'm doing it for her."
Rise 'N Shine
Henion's average workday runs from 7 AM to 3 PM, but everyone must be at the work site by 6 AM to prepare for the day ahead. A union apprentice must call in the night before for the next day's available work. Not a job for slackers.
Black & Blues
So far, Daphne hasn't had any major injuries, except a sprained ankle, countless bumps, bruises, and cuts. "There are days when I just feel like quitting. It gets really stressful on the body." One of the minimum job requirements is a dead lift of 70 pounds. "You use muscles you wouldn't normally use." Her first experience using a nail gun left the nerves in her hand tingling and throbbing for a week. She couldn't even clench a fist.
Dreams Expand
Daphne Henion's dream goes beyond a journeyman. She'd like to someday run her own construction company, or maybe even go into criminal justice. She advises teens, "Keep busy, don't try to grow up too fast, motivate yourself and stay motivated. Don't be a follower, be a leader. Be original, independent, and keep it real for yourself!"