Recent Sequoyah High School grad Michael York hasn't had it easy.
While working his way through the welding program at Sequoyah his junior and senior years, he had to work through something much harder with his family: homelessness.
His mother, who he said couldn't work due to a disability, told him she wanted him to finish school. But when the bills continued, they couldn't keep their house. They were welcomed by their small Soddy-Daisy church, where they stayed for over a year.
It's an experience he won't soon forget.
"It was hard to watch her go through all that," York said of his mother. "We were in a situation that took a toll on everyone. It made me realize I needed to do something different to make my life that much better, so when I got into the workforce, we'd never have to go through that again."
He put his full time and effort into studying welding while in school. It's already paid off, too. York took home first place at the Tennessee SKILLS Competition, a vocational competition featuring welding, automotive service, carpentry and more, earning him a spot to compete in the national competition later this month.
In the contest, York had two days to weld together a rather technical design and follow a blueprint specifying different welds, where they went and their dimensions. Everything needed to be extremely precise, said York - who actually finished early and didn't have to fully utilize both days. He credits his comprehensive studies in school for being able to win first.
"Every day I showed up to school, it was an opportunity to learn as much as possible," he said.
York became an active member of his school's American Welding Society, in addition to participating in baseball, track, and basketball and serving as the Raider Commander for Sequoyah High's ROTC program while still finding time for his studies.
Every day after school, he'd head back to the church where his mother and older sister were living. His sister worked, but saving up money was slow-going. Oftentimes, he'd skip a meal to save up a bit more money and ensure his mother had more to eat. It was difficult, but York said he wouldn't take anything back.
"A lot of people don't have any idea of what it's like being homeless," he said. "It gave me perspective. You don't really know what you have until you lose everything you had."
The welding program was both a space to keep his mind occupied and focused as a coping mechanism, and an avenue of self-expression.
York gave credit to his instructor, Chris Renfro, for trying to make a difference in the lives of his students. Renfro, he said, talked personally with every student, not just about school, but about life as well.
York is currently weighing his options between several possibilities, including
welding schools and apprenticeships in the Chattanooga area.
If not for the welding program at Sequoyah High, he said, he's not sure what he would've have done post-graduation.
"Don't get me wrong, academic classes are important, but having the option to go into a vocation because of these classes opens up so many more opportunities," York said. "I think every student should get the ability to be exposed to vocational programs like this. It can be life-changing. It certainly was for me."