Mary Jane Clark LK ’09

October 21, 2017

Mary Jane Clark LK '09 Coming to NBSS was a total career change for me. I had been a teacher of the visually impaired for more than 28 years. I taught many subjects including Braille, orientation and mobility, and technology and, in my spare time, I repaired Braille writers.

I lived in Massachusetts and was planning to move to Maine for a simpler life. Keeping my specialized teaching job would have required too much travel. Moving gave me the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill and reinvent myself.

I was originally interested in the Cabinet & Furniture Making program. After several classes, I realized that I was good at executing and following directions but not as good at the creative process.

On my first day of locksmithing I knew – this was exactly for me. I absolutely loved it. For my entire life I’ve been nursing my mechanical abilities and, with locksmithing, I could immerse myself in that clear-cut world where if something breaks, you fix it and the job is done. Teaching special education, although fulfilling in many ways, is never clear-cut and never completely done. I was ready for the change.

[Former] Department Head Dave Troiano was a wealth of information. He exposed us to a huge variety of things encountered in the field, and we were expected to master them. The program is very hands-on, very fast paced and very thorough. The wide variety of things covered is a huge plus. With Dave, you never stop being his student and, you never stop learning. It’s a connection that doesn’t end with graduation. You’ll always have a hotline to him when you have questions in the field. I am not sure you would get that in other programs or in a correspondence course.

I couldn’t say enough positive things about the school and this program. Locksmithing has allowed me to live in a beautiful place, have control of my work schedule and find a healthier balance in my life. The Locksmithing & Security Technology program gave me the skills I needed to begin a new career. This career change was not about making money, it was about improving the quality of my life, and NBSS has given me that opportunity!

On my first day of locksmithing I knew – this was exactly for me. I absolutely loved it. For my entire life I’ve been nursing my mechanical abilities and, with locksmithing, I could immerse myself in that clear-cut world where if something breaks, you fix it and the job is done.