Abdullah is an African American who has lived in Silicon Valley since childhood. After college he began a career as a paralegal in the tech industry.
“Sometimes you know where you want to go but not how to get there and TOP provides you with all of that.”
“The pay was okay,” he says, but not enough to enable him to save for retirement. Once he reached his 40s, he says, “I was seeking something that came with a plan for when I retire.”
In the TOP class he learned about various trades, and ultimately ended up starting an apprenticeship as a Construction Inspector. It took almost a year to get in, but once he started work, he says, “it just fit my personality.”
“I didn’t know that the learning process was continuous. There was a lot of studying, a lot of testing, certifications you need you get, the schooling doesn’t end.”
To future TOP applicants, he says, ”Take advantage of all that TOP has to offer. I refer people all the time. Sometimes you know where you want to go but not how to get there and TOP provides you with all of that.”
