Sam Kroll

With Winkley Orthotics and Prosthetics, I worked as a technician's assistant. This temporary job opportunity was passed my way due to a brief, short-lived position that Winkley offered me because of a period of turnover they were facing. At Winkley, I would do entry-level, rough work on foot orthotics and replacement limbs that the technicians were commissioned to manufacture. Melanie would have me chisel out the plaster mold after it had been used to make a test socket, and do rough grinding on these test sockets. I loved this facet of the work because working with my hands excites me. My dad taught me and my brothers how to work on our own cars and maintain them, doing routine oil changes and tire rotations at home while growing up, and even now. I began building a guitar in high school, which was an exciting intersection of two of my favorite hobbies: making music, and working with my hands. I’ve been playing guitar since fifth grade, and it has led me to make music to this day on my computer. I make music with various samples and automated instruments, often integrating my guitar work and knowledge into my songs. I mix and master them all myself, which is something I do intense research on as I make more songs and have different demands for mixes and masters. Doing this research myself has allowed me to hone certain skills through internet research, a skill that would suit me well in an industry that is heading toward a computerized future. Having this creative outlet and control has been an exhilarating and fun pastime of mine throughout my entire life, and having an opportunity like the one with Winkley to work with my hands and be creative, while giving me a taste of what my future work could look like, has always been a dream of mine. I have been hoping to return to it since I was initially introduced. Winkley allowed me my first opportunity to do what I love in my spare time, at its core, in a way that earns me a living, which I’ve been dreaming of. My tenure with Winkley ended after 8 months due to the company’s success with the new technician, and solely because they no longer needed me, which was by design.