Starting January 3, 2026, I started plumbing school at National Technical Institute (NTI). I had a few reasons to start this journey, mainly just to never stop learning something new. Working with your hands is also very therapeutic and you get a sense of accomplishment when you finish a project.

I didn’t expect to be so challenged, but also feel very rewarded in enrolling into something completely out of my wheelhouse.

Right now I am in week 12 of 16 and just completed Water Heaters. Other things I have learned and tested on are Garbage Disposals, Toilets, Kitchen Sinks, Bathroom Sinks, DWV (drain-waste-vent) systems and soldering copper pipes.

I would say the most challenging and unexpected part to this course is understanding the “art” of plumbing. I didn’t expect to study and memorize what everything was and how it went together and worked, but still struggle to get it to not leak and fit together properly!