PATHWAYS to SUCCESS Building Experience with Construction Technology: Student Pursuing Dream of Building a Home R. Scott Gerdes Natasha Loss believes she comes from the complete opposite background from someone who normally builds a home - her parents were musicians who hired others to fix things around the house And while she respects the people who came out to do that for her family, she always wanted to be able to do it for herself Plus, with the high cost of buying and maintaining a home these days, she figures she's only going to know that joy by building it herself "I don't know when I'm going to be able to afford a house," she shared if that does happen. I feel like the best chance for me to own my own house is to build it. And because I was never taught these skills as a kid, I figured this would be the best way for me to learn Loss is in the middle of her first term at UNM-Taos. She's working toward a certificate in Construction Technology Her first taste of the program involves General Carpentry and Alternative NM TAOS taos.unm.edu 575.737.6215 Registration for Summer and Fall classes opens in a few weeks. Building and Construction classes. So far, she's learned how to frame a wall and some basics regarding residential building codes. The alternative building styles-such as rammed earth, poured pumice, hay bale, stacked tire techniques, and passive solar, for example intrigue and excite her when envisioning her own home "I feel like the best chance for me to own my own house is to build it. And because I was never taught these skills as a kid, I figured this would be the best way for me to learn." "It's pretty cool because I get to see just tons of little examples, like an example every week of an alternative building style," she said. "Hopefully, by the end of the class I have enough knowledge of various ways to build that I can piece my favorite ways together" "I don't doubt that by the time I'm finished with the certificate, I will be able to do this." Loss added that learning about alternative building methods is broadening her mind because it's all brand new to her "Ive lived in suburbia most of my life and it's really cool getting to learn all these different methods every single week that I may or may not use in to the future. But having them exposed me is so exciting," she said. She knows there's still a lot to lear, but being able to frame a wall after around just eight weeks of classes is already giving Loss the confidence to build a place to call home don't doubt that by the time I'm finished with the certificate, I will be able to do this PATHWAYS to SUCCESS Building Experience with Construction Technology : Student Pursuing Dream of Building a Home R. Scott Gerdes Natasha Loss believes she comes from the complete opposite background from someone who normally builds a home - her parents were musicians who hired others to fix things around the house And while she respects the people who came out to do that for her family , she always wanted to be able to do it for herself Plus , with the high cost of buying and maintaining a home these days , she figures she's only going to know that joy by building it herself " I don't know when I'm going to be able to afford a house , " she shared if that does happen . I feel like the best chance for me to own my own house is to build it . And because I was never taught these skills as a kid , I figured this would be the best way for me to learn Loss is in the middle of her first term at UNM - Taos . She's working toward a certificate in Construction Technology Her first taste of the program involves General Carpentry and Alternative NM TAOS taos.unm.edu 575.737.6215 Registration for Summer and Fall classes opens in a few weeks . Building and Construction classes . So far , she's learned how to frame a wall and some basics regarding residential building codes . The alternative building styles - such as rammed earth , poured pumice , hay bale , stacked tire techniques , and passive solar , for example intrigue and excite her when envisioning her own home " I feel like the best chance for me to own my own house is to build it . And because I was never taught these skills as a kid , I figured this would be the best way for me to learn . " " It's pretty cool because I get to see just tons of little examples , like an example every week of an alternative building style , " she said . " Hopefully , by the end of the class I have enough knowledge of various ways to build that I can piece my favorite ways together " " I don't doubt that by the time I'm finished with the certificate , I will be able to do this . " Loss added that learning about alternative building methods is broadening her mind because it's all brand new to her " Ive lived in suburbia most of my life and it's really cool getting to learn all these different methods every single week that I may or may not use in to the future . But having them exposed me is so exciting , " she said . She knows there's still a lot to lear , but being able to frame a wall after around just eight weeks of classes is already giving Loss the confidence to build a place to call home don't doubt that by the time I'm finished with the certificate , I will be able to do this