Tammy Martin, Brio reader and student at Monty Technical School in Fitchburg, Mass., invited me to sample the school's cafeteria food, and once Tammy's parents and her principal, Mr. Cranson, approved, I was on my way.

Monty Tech is an exciting school. Not only do they offer the regular academic classes, but every other week, the students also get to attend their choice of vocational classes. These classes are offered in the following trades: culinary arts (they operate a real restaurant that the students run), cosmetology (their working salon is open to the public), plumbing, welding and metal shop, house carpentry, auto mechanics, dental assistant training, early child-care education (with child care available to the community), graphics, cabinetry, electronics, health care and plenty more. The shop teachers are professionals working in their respective fields. How fun is that?

Approximately 1,200 students attend Monty Tech, and they all had to apply and be accepted. Tammy's father is a graduate from Monty Tech and still works for the same business where he worked as a Monty Tech student.

Tammy's career interests lie in the health-care field. She will be a senior this fall and hopes to go to college following high school. She is considering psychiatry. Her favorite class right now is JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps).

What about the food? The Monty Tech cafeteria offers a variety of food items, everything from sandwiches to salads to baked potatoes and more. They have both cold items and hot entrees. Every Wednesday is nacho day, and their nachos are really good. Tammy's favorite lunch item is mashed potatoes. The cafeteria workers are very nice, too. (That's one thing about this tour: I've met the nicest cafeteria workers.)

Tammy has lived in Massachusetts all of her life, and she enjoys it. Something you might not have known is that Massachusetts is the birthplace of the original chocolate chip cookie. In 1930, Ruth Wakefield created the cookie (a favorite of Brio readers and staff alike). Mrs. Wakefield operated the Toll House Restaurant just outside of Whitman, Mass., and one day while working in the restaurant, she got an inspiration to break apart chocolate bars and add them to her regular cookie dough. The very first batch was a hit! Today, the chocolate chip cookie is the most popular cookie in America, and in 1997 it was designated to be the official cookie of Massachusetts. So now every time you eat a chocolate chip cookie, you'll think of Massachusetts - and hopefully the Brio staff and me. (Feel free to send any cookies that you'd like us to taste test to the Brio magazine office.)

Not only is Massachusetts the home of the original chocolate chip cookie, but it's also rich in American history. It is, of course, the site of Plymouth Rock. If you've never seen this landmark, it's worth the visit. A replica of the original pilgrim ship is docked there, and you can walk on board to get a feel for how the pilgrims sailed across to this country.

Another interesting fact about Massachusetts is it's the birthplace of Theodore Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss. It's also the birthplace of Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women (one of my favorites). Many politicians were born in Massachusetts, too, including Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, John Kennedy and George Bush, Sr. It's also the birthplace of Paul Revere and Benjamin Franklin. As you can see, a lot of history is there.

Another fun thing to see if you ever get up to Massachusetts is Bolton Orchards. (OK, it was fun for me.) I didn't even realize such a place existed, but as I drove along the highway, I saw a sign for Bolton, Mass., and figured I had to stop. Bolton Orchards sells all sorts of yummy food and their own Bolton Root Beer.

I enjoyed my visit with Tammy, and I really enjoyed Monty Tech. It's an awesome school that provides an amazing opportunity for students to learn a vocation - and to eat some pretty tasty nachos.