Holly is a welding gal in a welding world
Welding School Experience
I’m a 50-year-old single mom and I decided to do something crazy. I went to welding school.
I was working for a local candle Company in Columbus Ohio. It was a fast-paced job where I led a crew of 15 or so people, making soy candles out of recycled wine bottles. Unfortunately, the bosses and I didn't agree on COVID precautions and I was pushed out. I had to leave to keep my family safe.
I had to figure out something. I had bills to pay and no help.
Welding was something I had thought about over the years, mainly the money I could make. I thought it would be really cool to play with metal and fire and melt things. I could also use the skills I would gain to do art on my own, another way to make money. As a single mom of two teenage daughters, money is always a top concern. I never took that first step because I didn't want to go to school. I hated school. Homework and tests? Forget it.
But then I realized that if I don't go to school, I won't learn what I need to learn. (funny how that works, huh?) No one is going to just hand this to me, so I had to make an effort. So, I started poking around.
I found Eastland Fairfield Technical School, which is about 20 minutes from my house. I contacted the school and got the ball rolling. I haven’t been in school in literally 30 years. I knew I would be the oldest, and possibly the only woman in the class. The ladies in the office took me by the hand, helped me with everything I needed to do, and got me enrolled.
For financial aid, I had to do a bunch of crazy tests, like elementary school math, which I was lucky enough to have elementary school kids to help me with!
I was nervous and excited. I worried about tests and homework. I worried about other students giving me shit. I worried about the instructor giving me shit.
I thought for sure he would be a grumpy old man who would give me grief for being female in a “man's” trade. We got lucky and our instructor turned out to be a fairly young guy (he wouldn't tell us, but we figured he was in his early 30s). He's the kind of guy who does forging, didn't have a smartphone or social media, and is old school. He was super chill and laid back, the exact kind of personality I can relate to.
I was so nervous I was nauseous. When I got to class on the first night, I was the last student to get there. Everyone was sitting and just silently watched me walk across the front of the room and sit down. The last chair that was available was the first chair at the first table. The instructor introduced himself and said “now we're going to go around the room and say what made us interested in welding.” so, of course, he looked at me. I had to talk. In front of the entire room full of 18-year-old boys. My stomach dropped. I have to talk? Out loud? In front of everyone?
I said, “I'm here for the big bucks.” Everyone laughed. I relaxed. I knew I was going to be ok.
Then I noticed another female in the class.
“Oh hell yeah!” I said to myself.
After class was over, I went up to her and asked her if she would be my best friend.
“Definitely!” she said. “Let's kick ass!”
So, we jumped in head first. The first month was all about safety, OSHA training, hand tools,
We had a little bit of homework here and there, but nothing that took too long thankfully. We did small 10-15 question tests for each section of the book, which could easily be passed just by skimming over the section.
It's not like high school, I actually wanted to learn this stuff. I surprised myself by actually reading and studying. I really wanted to be at the top of the class. I wanted to show these young guys that an old lady could do awesome and be awesome.
We eventually made our way to a different classroom that was attached to the lab. Walking in there for the first time was pretty intimidating. There were big metal machines everywhere. Tanks full of flammable gas, and little booths covered with thick red pieces of plastic.
Our instructor had us cut our own practice and test plates by hand so it got us used to handling metal and how to work the machines. Once we did it a few times, our nervousness dissipated and we could do it on our own. That was a really good feeling.
We started doing stick welding. It was hard and frustrating, and everyone hated it. We laid rows and rows of beads on bead pads. Everyone hoped that other processes would be easier.
We went through stick, MIG, and TIG process welding along with acetylene and plasma cutting. We also learned how to use a shear and a band saw. You could see everyone's confidence develop as we moved through each process.
Our 8 month class turned into 9.5 months. COVID made its rounds. We had several snow and admin days that had to be tacked onto the end of the class schedule. Many of us had started looking for work already and some had already landed jobs.
My daughters watched me graduate. I giggle to myself when I think about how proud I felt that night. I couldn't believe I did it.
I had no idea what kind of job I was going to end up with. I wanted to go for the big money, but that usually meant strict factory work, travel, time in the business, and unions. That scene wasn't for me but it is right for a lot of people. You can make some serious money in this industry.
I was really interested in fabrication. I knew every day would be different and I would have the chance to learn a lot and be creative. That sounded really exciting to me. I also wanted to see how I could translate what I would learn into doing things for myself. I've been an artist my entire life and welding would open up some crazy possibilities.
I was poking around on Facebook and came across an ad for Yellow Weld, which is a small fabrication team here in Columbus who was looking to hire another welder. I dropped them an email. I chatted back and forth with the owner, David, who was gracious enough to give me a shot. I went to the shop for a working interview for a few days. I was so nervous, and I didn't do so well welding some small pickets. David gave me a chance anyway. He was more concerned about me fitting in with the other welders instead of how well I could weld. He said, “I can teach you how to be a good welder, I can't teach you to not be an asshole.” I knew I was going to like this place.
And here I am, going on my third month, having a ball. I’m working 40+ hours a week with a super cool group of guys who don’t treat me any differently because I'm female. They all very quickly made me feel like an important part of the team by asking my opinion on things. Everyday is something completely different. I’m learning so much and I’m actually excited to go into work for the first time in my life. I get to do installations in homes and businesses and just seeing practical applications to welding is really fun. It's hard physically, because I’m not in the best shape of my life, but I'm getting there!
My little joke is when delivery trucks bring us big chunks of metal, I'll run out there and say…
“Don't worry! The girl is here! And the girl brought her GIRL MUSCLES!”
Most of the time I get a good laugh, but one guy said…
“You're a GIRL and you work in a metal shop??”
(I've been waiting for this)
I replied…
“Well yeah! Someone’s gotta get shit done around here!”
So, I just wanted to let you know that if I can do it, you can do it. Make a change, do something new. Don’t let society tell you that you can't do something because it's a “man's” job. Do it. Jump in with both feet and don't look back. Take charge. Mean business. Make money. Show your kids how strong you can be. You CAN do this and if you need a pep talk, email me.
