A Hats Off to You Award goes to Vanier Architectural Technology student Susana Dutra

Congratulations to 3rd year Architectural Technology student Susana Dutra for winning a $500 Hats Off to You – Chapeaux les filles 2014 award.  Chapeaux les filles is a province-wide program run by the Ministry of Education, which awards scholarships to young women who are enrolled in technical programs leading to traditionally male-dominated occupations.

Following her passion
Motivated by a passion for construction and wanting to set an example for her daughters, Susana went after her dream.  “I’ve always loved renovations, and I used to hang around my dad whenever he was renovating or building something,” she says.  “Being a traditional man, he never let me pick up any power tools and would send me to my mother when I became a bother. But Architectural Technology has been the right program for me, and today, I love picking up the hammer and starting up those power tools!!!  Enrolling in this program also shows my daughters that you must follow your passion, even if it involves a male-dominated field.”

Going back to school after raising a family
Not only did Susana enter a male dominated field, she did so at the age of 44. “I was a stay-at-home mom for ten years, and when it came time to re-enter the work force, I lacked marketable skills.  So I decided to go back to school.  Many around me questioned my decision because of my age.  I dismissed the naysayers and set out to prove that it’s never too late, and that anything can be accomplished with dedication and hard work.”

Hard work and confidence go a long way
Susana knows that working in her chosen field is not easy.  “Despite all the progress that has been made in our society, there are still many occupations that are predominately male,” she says.  “The construction industry is one of them. But I like to work hard and the precision of finishing work in construction and the detailed planning of construction drawings are well suited to my patience and love of work well done.  Good, hard work is appreciated regardless of the sex of the worker, and it lends itself to credibility—qualities that go far in dealing with a male-dominated environment. One has to be confident in their skills, and not be deterred by people who wish to discredit someone based on their sex.”

A model student and model mother
Susana is thrilled to be graduating this May and eager to enter the workforce.  “My goal is to work in a firm that uses Revit® as their software for producing working construction drawings.  This is relatively new software, one that I love using and am quite proficient at.”  As for her daughters - “I am proud to say that I have become a role model for them and I am encouraging my eldest daughter to go into Sciences.  I’ve told her not to be intimidated by the fact that it is mostly boys that enter those programs.”  And Susana speaks from experience.