“Yes!” Callum shouted. He had just scored three bonus points. He was winning! All he had to do was answer this question.“What common substance is made of dihydrogen monoxide?” the teacher asked.
Callum’s heart started to pound. He stared at the question written on the board. The words looked complicated: *dihydrogen monoxide*. He sounded it out in his head, trying not to panic.“I’ve seen this before,” he thought. “Di means two. Hydrogen… that’s H. And mono means one. Oxide… that must be oxygen.”He glanced around the room. A few classmates were biting their pencils. Others were whispering to themselves, trying to figure it out. The room felt completely silent except for the ticking of the clock. Suddenly, it clicked. Callum’s eyes lit up. “I know it!” he whispered under his breath. He raised his hand slowly, then higher and higher until it was straight up in the air. “Yes, Callum?” the teacher said, smiling.“Water,” Callum answered. “Dihydrogen monoxide is just water.”The teacher grinned. “Correct! Three more points for Callum.”The class gasped. Some students groaned, wishing they had figured it out first. Callum sank back into his seat, a huge smile spreading across his face. Not only was he still winning, but now he felt smarter than ever.

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Callum

"Great job, Callum!" said Mrs. Reagen. "Because you answered that bonus question correctly, our class has earned a special trip to the YEC Museum. There, we’ll learn more about how electricity works and discover who provides electricity for our community. You’ll get to see real equipment, ask questions, and explore exhibits that show how electricity is made, transported, and used every day. It’s going to be an exciting chance to connect what we’re learning in class to the real world."

  "I really don't want to go to the YEC museum where we just stare at wires and watch lights turn on and off," sighed Callum.

"But it will be fun, and you like to learn things," said Ezran. "It’s not just wires. YEC stands for York Electric Cooperative. It’s a special kind of company where the people who get electricity are also the owners, like a big team. They all work together to keep the lights on.

"They have more than a thousand miles of power lines that stretch across neighborhoods and farms. The lines carry electricity from big power plants all the way to our houses. At the museum, they’ll show us how those lines go through transformers to make the electricity safe before it comes into your home."They also teach people how to stay safe around electricity. Like, they’ll show you why you should never touch downed power lines, and why you have to keep kites and drones away from the poles and wires. They even have displays that show what happens if something metal touches a live line.

"York Electric Cooperative helps the community, too. They fix lines after storms, and they sometimes help families save money by teaching them how to use less energy. They even use special meters so they can see how much electricity people use every day."So we won’t just be staring at lights," Ezran continued. "We’ll get to see how the whole system works from the power plants, to the big tall transmission lines, to the smaller lines on our street, all the way to the switch on your bedroom wall. I think it’ll be pretty cool."Callum looked thoughtful. "Well," he said slowly, "I guess learning how all that electricity gets to my game console might be kind of interesting."Ezran smiled. "Exactly. And maybe you’ll even find out how to keep it from going out during storms!"

The class finally reached the “stupid” museum. When they got off the bus, a former electric co-op employee met the class. “Well, hello there. This is the Electric Co-op Museum. Where would you like to start?” he asked. "I want to start leaving," mumbled Callum. Several students snickered, but Mrs. Reagan’s eyes narrowed. She stepped closer to Callum so the whole class could hear. Callum stared at his shoes. “Sorry, Mrs.Reagan,” he mumbled again.“Yes, Mrs. Reagan,” Callum replied a bit louder. The guide smiled again, a little nervously, and motioned for the students to follow. The class shuffled forward into the museum, and even though Callum still wasn’t thrilled, he kept his comments to himself this time.

Where would you like to start?

You might think Electric co-ops are boring, but it is A privilege to have an electric Co-op that works so hard to protect you, from problems with Wi-Fi to fallen electric lines, you know when there is a storm and you cannot do your school work, and you need someone to fix it. That's when line workers take action first; they go to the site to check what has happened. Next, they go to the warehouse and get the supplies they need because if they don't know what they need, they will come unprepared and get hurt. 

These are things they use  

Power poles – wood or metal poles that hold up the power lines
• Insulators – parts that attach wires to poles and keep electricity from leaking
• Conductors (wires) – the metal cables that carry electricity
• Transformers – devices that change voltage so power can be used in homes and businesses
• Crossarms – horizontal beams on the poles that support the wires
• Guy wires – tensioned cables that help keep poles standing straight
• Fuses and switches – safety devices that protect the system and control the flow of electricity
• Connectors and clamps – parts that join sections of wire together
• Grounding rods and wire – materials that safely direct extra electricity into the ground
• Safety gear – insulated gloves, helmets, safety glasses, harnesses, and special boots
• Bucket trucks – trucks with lifting buckets to reach high lines
• Climbing gear – belts, hooks, and straps for linemen to climb poles

"Ok, let’s move on to our electric co-ops. YEC was founded in 1941 by a group of farmers. Since no one would help them get electricity, they thought, ‘Why not do it ourselves?’

Over time, YEC grew larger and stronger as more members joined and supported the co-op. They built more power lines, reached more neighborhoods, and helped improve the quality of life for people all across the county. And that was the beginning of the York Electric Co-op," lectured Mr. John.

All of that made Callum think to himself, *“That seems pretty fun!”* He raised his hand and said, “I want to be a lineman when I grow up.” Mrs. Reagan’s eyes widened in surprise. “A lineman?” she exclaimed. “Wow, Callum, that’s an exciting and very important job! I thought you were bored with coming here. What made you change your mind and choose that?”Callum sat up a little straighter, feeling proud that he had surprised his teacher. He glanced around at the tall poles, the shiny tools, and the careful way Mr. Johnchecked every wire before touching it.“Well,” Callum began, “at first I thought this place would be boring. I didn’t really understand what linemen do. But when I saw how you climb the poles, fix the wires, and check everything to keep the lights on for everyone, it looked really exciting. And when the power went out in the video, and you showed us how you fix it, I realized that people really need you. I want to help people like that.”Mr. John smiled. “That means a lot to hear, Callum. Linemen work hard, and sometimes it’s scary. We go out in storms, in the dark, and in the cold to make sure families can stay warm and safe. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.”Callum nodded. “I like that it’s a job where you can be brave and helpful at the same time.” “Wow, Callum, I don’t know what to say,” said Mrs. Reagan, still in shock but also very proud. "At the

beginning of the day, you didn’t even want to be here. Now you’re thinking about your future and how you can help others. That’s a big change.”Callum looked down for a moment, a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry for how I acted before,” he said quietly. “I thought field trips were just a way to miss class. I didn’t think I’d learn anything real. But now I see that this job is actually super important.”He turned to Mr. John. “Thank you, Mr. John. I know I was a little mean at first, but now I see how your job is so important. Without linemen, people wouldn’t have lights, heat, or even charged phones!”Mr. John laughed. “You’re right about that! And thank you for listening and giving it a chance. That’s all any grown‑up can ask.”As they walked back toward the bus, Callum noticed things he hadn’t paid attention to before: the thick cables running between poles, the warning signs, and the big trucks with special equipment.“Mrs. Reagan,” he said, “do you think I could really be a lineman someday?absolutely do,” she replied. “If you work hard in school, especially in math and science, and you stay curious like you were today, you can be anything you want to be—even a lineman.”Callum smiled so wide his cheeks hurt. He pressed his hand against the bus window as they drove away and watched the power lines stretch far into the distance, like long, black roads in 

the sky. He imagined himself in a bright helmet and safety harness, climbing a tall pole with the wind in his face, fixing a broken wire so a whole neighborhood could turn their lights back on. He imagined families cheering when the TV flickered to life again and kids shouting, “The power’s back!”*That’s going to be me one day,* he thought. *I’m going to be the person who helps.* Back at school, as everyone grabbed their backpacks, the kids chattered about their favorite parts of the trip. Some liked the big trucks, others liked the safety gear, and a few still thought the free stickers were the best part. But for Callum, it was something different.“This was the best field trip ever,” said Callum. “Not just because it was fun, but because now I know what I want to be when I grow up.”Mrs. Reagan put a hand on his shoulder. “And that,” she said warmly, “is exactly what field trips are for.”That night, as the streetlights blinked on outside his window, Callum looked out at the glowing town and whispered, “Thank you, linemen.”And somewhere far away, high up on a pole under the darkening sky, a real lineman tightened one last bolt, checked one last wire, and helped the lights stay on—maybe for a boy named Callum who had just discovered his future. 

Ajith is a fourth grader at Doby's Bridge Elementary School. When he grows uphewants to be a soccer player. He likes ice cream and ronaldS

Aviral is a fourth grader at Doby's bridge Elementery school he wants to be an engineer when he grows up. He likes to study and work.

Aviral

Ajith