One of the patios Hillary built this summer.
Do you want a backyard patio installed? Contact Niko Hillary.
As part of earning his certificate in Agricultural Business Management from the Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA), this summer Hillary interned at A Change of Scenery, a landscaping company in White Hall, Maryland. Working as a laborer gave Hillary a chance to get first-hand experience in the potential career field.
In the past, Hillary worked as a food runner in the restaurant industry, so this landscaping experience was completely new to him. He says he chose this internship because this job offered “real-life work experience, an increase in my hourly wage and because physical labor gets you in shape.”
Hillary’s day-to-day routine included cutting grass, trimming and planting various species of bushes and trees, and mulching gardens and lawns. But, his favorite part of the job was installing patios. He helped install three patios. This was his favorite job because he got so much joy creating something from scratch. He said, “Just knowing that you turned this patch of grass into a beautiful landscape and being able to see the before and after was amazing to me.”
From his coworkers, Hillary learned some Spanish, which was not a new skill he planned to pick up but was glad he did. He also believes he improved upon were his communication skills by observing the way the company’s owner communicated with customers. This eventually gave Hillary the confidence he needed to discuss specific job details with customers as well. He also learned how to drive stick shift and operate a riding lawnmower.
Hillary said that although his internship was very fulfilling and fun, he still is not sure exactly what he wants to do yet. “I really enjoy being outside and using my hands for the job, but landscaping is very tiring, labor-heavy work and isn’t a long-term job for me.” He aspires to have a career where he can reach the eyes of more people and focus his efforts on marketing.
