How I became an Electrician

My father is an electrician.  My brother did some electrical work and is now a marine!  Dads brother, Uncle Doug is an electrician.  Dads brother, Uncle Dave was an electrician.  Dads late brother, Uncle Don was an electrician.  Cousin Eric (Uncle Dons kid) was an electrician.  Dads sister's son, cousin Johnny (I think he goes by John now, but he's always been Johnny to me!) is an electrician.  Dads uncle (his mom's [we call her Nanny] brother) was an electrician and dads grandfather (Nanny's dad) was an electrician.  So.. I am a fourth generation union electrician!  I believe Great Grandpa got into the union in 1906, and I was accepted in 2006.
After graduating from high school in 2002, I went to kind of a prep school in Vermont called North American Hockey Academy (NAHA). We only lived there during the hockey season and played 50 games in 5 months.  The girls that were in high school, went to their regular school until October, and then picked up with their schooling at NAHA one-on-one with a teacher.  As a post grad, I took some online classes and didn't have to go to school before heading up to Vermont.

Between graduation and the start of NAHA, I helped my dad, an electrical contractor in the Philadelphia area.  It started with him asking me to run to the supply house and bring some material to the job.  Then he taught me to "pull wire."  I did this for the next couple summers and while in college (when I was home).  

After NAHA, I went to Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY.  After a year there, I came home and went to the community college for two years and then Temple University.  All the while running material for my dad.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do (all that college and no degree!)  I love math and was going to be an actuary (a what?!?)  That's a story for another day!  

My dad suggested I try to get into the union and become an electrician.  I've always been a tomboy and loved the idea of working with my hands, and having a physical job.  I took the test in April during my second semester at Temple.  I must have started another semester at Temple, because I was accepted into the union and began school in October 2006.  After finishing the semester at Temple, I worked for my dad full time and continued to attend my one day a week classes at the union hall.  I was one of three girls in my graduating class.  We graduated in January of 2010.  I just recently finished my 8000 hours in the field, and am now a Journeyman Wireman and I have my licence in Philadelphia and Allentown!  

Are you a non-traditional woman?  Do you have a non-traditional job?  If so I'd love to hear your story!