Ozzie (Osmara) Lourenco
Program Coordinator at New Jersey City University
Long before our time, writer, William Arthur Ward, quoted that “the pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails”, and this seems to be the motto for Educate the Block (ETB) and its participants. The winds of change are constant, and those who will pull through will need to adjust the sails.
Its Maritime program is fully aware of this and is rocking the boat (a little pun intended!) in the world of Workforce Development and showing you that those adjusted sails can take you in amazing directions!
This week’s hands-on class was one step closer to the next adventure. The third of a three-part class, “Rodeo of Another Kind” was all about docking, specifically how to dock a tugboat. Instructor Ali Flares a long-time veteran of Buchannan Marine, carefully reviewed the different types of tugboats and the importance of navigating and appropriately docking them.
The participants practiced with two lengths of laid rope, 18” and 25”, simulating lancing the rope to catch boat and deck cleats. The exercise required concentration and implementing what was reviewed., and they were so dedicated that they skipped their lunch time to keep practicing!
When asked about the class and the instructor, the participants had nothing but kudos! Frais H. said that “the class was hands-on and Ali was great and he taught a lot. She felt very comfortable and hopes he can come back”. Chicanda H. dovetailed these thoughts and added that “the class was very educational and Ali was very patient”. Ali and the class he taught were certainly not at a loss of praise, and Terrance D. added that Ali was well-informed, very professional and provided a lot of feedback”. Clearly, these comments echo the message that with professional guidance and dedication, adjusting the sail is a reality that will move us forward.
