Nicolas Rangel, 20, helped his mom, Maria Zavala, build her home in a self-help community in Madera, California. Now, he is helping the Grid Alternatives team put solar panels on the roof of her home. Rangel is at a crossroads in his life and has been contemplating joining the military. But, since volunteering for the Solarthon event in the neighborhood, he sees a different career opportunity in solar. “Hopefully this whole two weeks (volunteering at Solarthon) is a road that paved itself and it’s now asking me to walk it. If I have to take classes, I will,” he said.