Meet Brock Esarey: YCA Student Follow-Up
Brock Esarey is a former student of the Villages Charter School and former participating student in the Youth Construction Academy (YCA). Prior to joining the Youth Construction Academy, Brock was heavily involved in sports. In addition to his schoolwork, being a member of both the basketball and football team kept Brock quite busy, playing the position of quarterback in football and power forward in basketball. Brock is an avid Notre Dame football fan and enjoys fitness and boating.
Although Brock enjoyed playing sports and had done so since he was a small child, as he began his upper high school classes Brock decided to focus more on career building skills. Brock had always enjoyed handy work. In fact, the previous summer before starting the YCA program, he had a job framing houses with a local contractor. As he was considering the available academic components within his school, he came across the YCA and instantly new it was a perfect fit for him. The most enjoyable part of the YCA program was developing a mentorship with his teacher Mr. Haberle, whom he still calls on anytime he has questions or seeking advice. Brock admits that the most difficult experience was learning flooring, as the work was very hard on his knees and back. However, he understood it came with the job and was a necessary skill to learn.
Being a part of the YCA has had a tremendous impact on Brock. Since graduating from the Villages Charter School last year, Brock has found a career within the construction industry. Initially, he began doing trim work in the Villages, and is now currently employed as an assistant superintendent for The Villages, an opportunity that he credits to the YCA program. Brock plans to continue pursuing his interest in the construction field and getting his license to become a general contractor and certified builder in the Villages.
Brock is thankful for the opportunities the Youth Construction Academy offered him, to develop career-building skills and training that prepared him for a successful future. The YCA allowed Brock to turn a hobby into a passion, and now a budding career. The YCA not only provided Brock a hands-on learning environment and vocational education, but also allowed him and his fellow classmates the ability to obtain the necessary certifications to secure job placement after high school. Without the support of The Villages Charter School, the YCA Advisory Board, and the support of local contractors, Brock and other students would not have these direct opportunities to gainful employment. Brock encourages the next YCA class to show up with a positive attitude and ready to work because the reward is truly worth it!
Learn more about the four schools who’ve partnered with us, The Villages Charter High, Leesburg High, South Lake High, and Eustis High, to build homes for local families each school year! Visit our Facebook to follow the students progress from groundbreaking to dedication day, as each school begins a new build in September 2022!