Graduation for most means saying farewell to their university, but not for Joshua Richey. His new chapter will be a familiar one as he becomes a staff member with UTA Libraries, serving as the new Shop Room Supervisor in the FabLab.  

Prior to his promotion, Joshua worked in The Shop Room for several years as a student assistant alongside his mentor and former Libraries staff member Timothy Neill.  
 

In this student role, Joshua provided guidance and hands-on instruction to learners on their woodworking projects. He feels that The Shop Room is not only a place to create but also fosters an environment of continual learning for students and instructors. 

"I knew that my graduation was coming up and student employees can't work here if they are not students. I was kind of sad about leaving The Shop Room because I got to teach others about something I love while doing things I love," Joshua said. "I kept looking for other jobs that were similar to this, but I could not find anything quite right. When the position opened, I thought, ‘This is my opportunity.’" 

Joshua joined the staff on May 15 after receiving his Bachelor of University Studies in Engineering and Business from the university. He feels proud of this accomplishment, which was five years in the making and after several changes to his major.  

He credits his time spent in The Shop Room with helping him find that focus and direction he needed in college.  

"I had an Engineering for Transfers class where we used the FabLab. I came here, saw the wood shop, and thought, ‘I could build something out of wood.’ I then met the whole wood shop team," he said. "After Tim Neill helped me with a few things, he told me about their workshops. I thought this would be cool, and I applied for a job here at the library. Getting a job here boosted my confidence in a way. It gave me a reason to stay at UTA because I was thinking about leaving." 

Joshua encourages students to find a group of people they can connect with on campus and to reach out for help when they need it. The higher education journey is not a race run alone but a relay race. Everyone lends a hand and works together.  

"We are more than just a school; we are a community made up of a bunch of smaller communities. Finding that smaller community within UTA helps students to stay and feel welcome," Joshua said. "There are a lot of resources here at UTA. If you get into something that seems way over your head, don't worry; we’re here to help.”