Page 13 - Hobart Institute Fall 2019 World of Welding

Jezekia Helton Piqua, OH: When I graduated High school I Madison St. Julian Toledo, OH: I am currently enrolled at Hobart
thought I had everything figured out, but then all of my plans fell Institute of Welding Technology. I learned I wanted to do welding
through. I had no clue what I wanted to do for a career but I knew when I went on a tour of our CTC program in high school. During
I wanted to truly enjoy my job. I did some research with my family our tour, we got to explore and play around with all the different
and decided I wanted to weld. With welding there are endless job types of welding processes. I always was a hands on learners in
opportunities and I have never met someone in this field who didn’t high school so after going through the tour, that’s when I knew
enjoy their job. that I wanted to do welding. I looked up the best welding schools
and found Hobart Institute and have been enjoying every minute of
April Sherwood, Gallipolis, OH: I chose welding as a career my experience here so far. I was always told that women can’t do
because it’s personal. I’m not a person for relying on others and everything a man can do and enjoy proving people wrong so here I
with welding it’s my skill, my concentration, my improvement and am.
my work. There’s nothing I love more than striking an arc and only
worrying about a puddle. You’ll never work a day in your life by Rose Thielke Wyaugwega, WI: I chose to be a welder because
choosing what you love and have a passion for. my whole life I’ve been running into people that think women
should still be cleaning and cooking and that’s it. I’ve been asked
Ashten Richards Belle Center, OH: There’s really no reason I over and over again why I would choose a field that I will never be
chose welding. It’s more about the impact my instructors had on the best in. The thing is, once they see what I can do, they’ll never
me that made me fall in love with this trade. My first instructor, Mr. say a word to me again. I chose this field to prove them wrong and
Snapp gave me the opportunity to weld at my high school before there is nothing in a man’s world that a woman can’t do. I believe
I signed up for welding. I had no idea what it was. I had no idea we are the strongest sex with or without muscles.
that I’d basically be messing around with combustible gasses, high
voltage, and very hot metal. I took a blind jump and I am so thankful Mazalenna Rhodes: I didn’t choose welding, welding chose me.
I did. Mr. Snapp really shaped my interests in welding. I was able to I am a mechanic in the Air Force and currently in an instructor
go to a career center. My instructor at Ohio Hi-Point was Mr. Barger. position. We have a welding course we teach and need another
He really helped me step out of my comfort zone and push myself instructor so I was selected and have since hit the ground running
to see that just because I’m a female doesn’t mean I can’t weld. He with it. I am here at Hobart Institute to learn and become a better
taught me to stand my ground. I really can’t find words to thank Mr. welder to further my career and to pick up a useful skill.
Barger for giving me the opportunity to really dive in the world of
welding. If you are interested in learning more about this group, or are a
woman in welding and would like to speak at a future meeting,
Erin Hess Defiance, OH: I chose welding because one of my dad’s please contact Janet Piechocki at Janet.Piechocki@welding.org
friends is a welder. I saw all of the different kinds of projects that
he had around his shop. I saw what welding could be and the many
possibilities that could come with a career in welding. I decided
I was going to go to a vocational school for my junior and senior
year. There were so many times in high school that I was told that
I wouldn’t be able to do it. I had to push two times harder to get
the same amount of credit as any guy in there. There is so much
diversity and being able to show myself that if I work for what I
want, anything can be done.

Whitney Nugent, Decatur, IL: Unlike the girls from high school
that talked about college, marriage, and a family, I’ve always
dreamed of learning a skill, becoming great at it and building a
career. I love to take life day-by-day but when I was 32 and still
didn’t have a career, I decided to kick it into gear. My father was
a painter at the local union and everyone always talks about his
admirable work ethic. I feel driven to develop a hard-working
reputation like that. When my brother-in-law left the military and
enrolled in welding school, I chose to take the plunge with him and
get my career underway.

www.welding.org - 13 - 2019 FALL ISSUE