HCTC student working; thankful for training

Jimmy Caudill vividly remembers the day Natasha Sebastian of Jackson walked into his Diesel Technology class at Hazard Community and Technical College. She was shy, would not look him in the eye, and lacked confidence. However, he was soon thrilled to see all of that turn around when she was hired as a Surface Maintenance Technician with the Kentucky National Guard, and as she earned her diploma.

Caudill recalls Natasha telling him she wanted to make a better life for herself and her 7-year-old son, Justin. Now she is very confident; her skills have developed greatly. He also praised her critical thinking skills and her troubleshooting skills on the job.

After being in these HCTC classes, I felt very qualified to apply for the job. This program helped a lot, she said, adding that she is enjoying her best job yet.

Today, no longer the shy young girl, she is now 26, and has been in the Kentucky National Guard since she was 17. Being in the National Guard has helped make her comfortable in a male-dominated profession. It s no big deal to be surrounded by men in the workplace, she said.