Girls like me are powering our future in the trades - By Maria Cafaro

Most people don’t expect a triple-sport varsity athlete to spend her afternoons wiring houses. But that’s exactly where I’ve found my passion, and where I’m proving that girls belong in the trades.

It all started freshman year at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School, when I chose electrical as my shop class. Through Shawsheen’s cooperative education program, which allows students to work in a trade while still in school, I was placed directly on real job sites in partnership with IBEW Local 103.

That hands-on experience changed everything for me.

I’ve worked alongside retired Local 103 members who volunteer their time helping install electrical systems for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, building affordable homes for families in the community. Every other week, I spend five days on site from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., learning residential service work, electrical codes, and how to safely shut down and restore power. This experience has been completely different from sitting in a classroom, and it’s helped me realize that this is something I’m good at and want to pursue a career in. That’s why after I graduate in May, I plan to apply for the electrical apprenticeship program with IBEW Local 103 and NECA Greater Boston.

Outside of my co-op, I’m deeply involved at Shawsheen and in my community. I’m a member of the National Honor Society; I’ve been on the honor roll all four years, and I received our school’s Citizenship Award three times. I serve as senior captain of both the varsity soccer and varsity basketball teams while also running track, and for the past four years I’ve coached youth basketball in Billerica. Balancing school, sports, and my co-op has taught me discipline, leadership, and responsibility.

This past year, I attended the Massachusetts Girls in Trades conference, which was hosted at IBEW Local 103 in Dorchester. Being in a room full of women working in different trades made the industry feel more open and welcoming. That’s where I met Renee Dozier, a business agent with Local 103. She took the time to talk with me about her path in the trade and what it took to build a long-term career. Seeing someone who has done it and is now in a leadership role made this path feel even more real and possible for me.

Growing up in Billerica, it’s inspiring to see leaders like IBEW Local 103 Business Manager Lou Antonellis, who actively encourages more women, even his own daughter, to join the trades.

It’s important for girls to know that careers like this are an option. Too often, college is presented as the “obvious” next step after high school, leaving the trades invisible. That’s part of why women are still such a small percentage of electricians nationwide.

My experience shows how much a community’s investment in career pathways can impact future generations. When students are intentionally connected to hands-on training and real opportunities, it builds confidence and opens doors for more young people – especially young women. Connecting students to union trades isn’t just about a job; it’s about showing what you’re capable of and what’s possible.

If I could give advice to other female students thinking about doing a co-op or exploring the trades, it would be simple: give it a try. You might surprise yourself.

Sometimes, all it takes is one opportunity to realize the future you want and that you can achieve it.

Maria Cafaro is a Billerica resident and 2026 graduate of of Shawsheen Valley Technical High School participating in the electrical co-op program with IBEW Local 103.