DETROIT – At just 19 years old, Alex Bojanowski is already helping light up homes across southeast Michigan. He’s an apprentice electrician with AJ Danboise in Farmington Hills, a company that’s been around for nearly a century.
Fresh out of high school, Alex was offered music scholarships to college. But he had other ideas.
“I had a few opportunities. I could have went to a few places for marching band, a few places for mountain bike racing, but by the end of my four years of high school, I just really didn’t want to do any more classrooms,” Alex said. “I just really wanted to start working and get my hands dirty.”
After trade school, Alex quickly found himself under the wing of experienced electricians who showed him everything. They saw so much good in him -- his drive and excitement.
“It’s nice working with a kid that’s enthusiastic about the work. You know, you get one kid who hates it and the next kid who loves it, so it’s nice to work with someone who actually enjoys it,” said Ben Kruger, electrical journeyman at AJ Danboise.
Before enjoying electrical work, music was Alex’s first love.
“I did five years in the marching band and I was super active in it. I was the center snare for most of it. I loved it and I even did our winter percussion group and I still do it now professionally with Winter Guard International and WGI,” Alex said.
He says when he started his career as an electrician, the beat never really left. He still feels it even on the job.
“There’s a rhythm to the jobs. I know how stupid that sounds but there is a rhythm,” Alex said.
His co-workers say Alex isn’t just a good worker. He’s a reminder that the future of skilled trades has heart and talent.
For anyone on the fence about trying the trades, Alex has this advice.
“Talk to someone who’s already into it is a good way to get into it. And the other advice is just to start applying to places. The company will help you out. They will tell you what you should do,” Alex said. “Just get out there. Just start looking things up.”