Advise for a 17 year old

[1940gearhead]

I've got a question for the group. I'm a retired Tool & Die maker/Machinist/gearhead. My Brother is married to a Thai national who had two kids. The oldest boy (17) is without a doubt the best natural mechanical talent I have ever seen. This kid should be going to MIT. The problem is that he doesn't have language skills. He's having problems graduating from a Detroit area high school. My brother is planning on retirering to Thailand next year. This kid will be wasted without the benefit of some kind of formal training. Anybody know of any kind of mentor program or training program for this guy? Any other advise? Just as an example, he is the best welder I have ever seen after three months of high school shop. I've worked with certified welders that aren't better than he is.

 

[MikeHalloran]

A year or two of community college could improve his language skills, but he'd still need a mentor to help him understand the homework questions. It sounds to me like you're the best candidate for that. Mostly, it takes patience.

MIT doesn't require welding skills. Seriously, if the kid is smart enough to get in there, he'd probably be able to find some help locally. Big universities like that are, well, international.

Here in FL, community colleges offer a two- tiered program. The one with the easy math gets you an associate's degree. The one with the hard math serves as a transition to a four year school. Good grades get you into any of the Florida state schools as a junior.

They don't publicize it, but other schools in other states have 'farm teams' like that, too, where they will accept credit from selected 'tech' community colleges.

So, visit the local community colleges, and find out which ones send graduates to which universities, then talk to the universities to find out what you need to do.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[sbi]

Nebraska is the same way to, and it worked for me

SBI
Central Ne.,USA

 

[1940gearhead]

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately the kid (Anon is his name) will have to work his way to something. My brother will be going to Thailand next year with his Thai wife and her two kids. One of which is Anon. My brother spent his working years at Goodyear space systems, later bought by Loral, then run into bankruptsy. No real pension. He can live on his Social Security in Thailand, not in the US. Anon will be wasted in Thailand.

I'd love to mentor the boy, but I retired to Phoenix and Anon is in Detroit. My place is to small to have him live here. I wish I knew someone with a shop in Detroit that would take him on. You have no idea what this kid can do. I'm a good natural mechanic but fall down in electronics. Anon is as good as I am in mechanical and seems to understand electrons as well I understand gears. All this without good english skills. If I had the money I'd buy him a lathe, a bridgeport, and a mig welder and turn him loose.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Next year Anon will be old to enough to live by himself, where he chooses. Could you help him get a trailer and a job in Phoenix?



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[griffengm]

'40gh,
Does Anon have citizenship issues that would prevent him from remaining in the US after he turns 18?
If he is eager to remain in the US and pursue academics he needs to find a good ESL (English as second Language) class ASAP.
I had a little experience with MIT admissions some time back and found that while they require excelent language and math skills they also want students with well rounded social skills and activities. If a student has a good mind but no social life he has two strikes already.
Many high schools have programs free for the using for students having problems including language. One of my kids ran such for a few years. While aimed initially at students with dyslexia and ADD, the program ended up with a number of Spanish speaking students because of the struggle with language(BTW, my kid spoke no Spanish). The hardest part of getting into the class was saying to oneself "I need help!"
I wish you both luck.

Griffy

 

[tripleZ]

Not trying to bring religion into this, but you might try calling the Catholic Diocese in the area. They run a program for refugees from countries throughout the world. Basically, they bring individuals seeking political and/or religious asylum to the states. They provide housing assistance, job placement programs, etc. As many of these people don't know English, or only have a rudimentary understanding of it, the charity has a pretty extensive list of interpreters and tutors that can help with English skills. They might be able to give you some direction as far as language is concerned.

 

[thaiboat]

I could mentor him if he does come to Thailand, Mike.

 

[thaiboat]

Sorry, my post was to gearhead not Mike.