Page 25 - HIWT World of Welding Spring-Summer 2021

Welding Sparks Passion in Franceska Armstrong

February 18, 2021

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, some people are finding and
taking advantage of opportunities. One of those people is Franceska
Armstrong from Dayton, Ohio.
After a line of jobs working in factories, Armstrong found a position
in robotics welding. Her father had been a welder and becoming a
welder had been a dream of hers. Just when she found the start of
her path, life threw her a curveball. She was laid off. “That was the
spark that ignited my passion,” she said.
Determined to continue
her dream career path,
Armstrong approached
Hobart Institute of
Welding Technology in Armstrong after graduating from Hobart Institute of Welding
Troy, Ohio. “I was the only female graduate in my class,” she said. “I feel
“I asked how I could empowered being a female in such a male-dominated trade.”
get into school, and at After graduation, it was her skills, and not her gender, that
the time, I didn’t have impressed employers. Armstrong hit the job market, did interviews
any money,” she said. and welding tests. Within weeks, she had three potential jobs
Hobart Institute of before she chose Techmetals in Dayton.
Welding referred “Welding is challenging, and I think that’s why I’m so passionate.
her to Montgomery I can fail a thousand times, but once I lay that perfect bead, I feel
County’s Workforce accomplished and proud.”
Development division,
housed at The Job Armstrong saw her layoff not as the end of her path, but as the
Armstrong in training as a welder Center on Edwin C. beginning. And she says it’s all for her two dogs: Ace and Rusty.
Moses Blvd. in Dayton. “I love my dogs more than anything in this world. They are like my
Because of the demand for welders and Armstrong being laid off, children,” she said. “They’ve motivated me to do better. I want to
she qualified for a grant through the Workforce Innovation and give them the life they deserve: a huge backyard to run and play.”
Opportunity Act (WIOA), which paid for her to attend and graduate Armstrong isn’t the
from welding school. only person who has
“I wanted a career that I wouldn’t have to worry about living benefitted from a job
paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “This was an incredible training grant from
opportunity for me.” Montgomery County.
The next step: math. Armstrong knew it was a weakness, describing Many who have
math as “a foreign language,” but she also knew she would need to experienced a layoff
pass an entrance exam to even get started at Hobart Institute. She have gone on to get
did not give up. She started working with a tutor through the WIOA CDLs, nursing grants,
Lab at The Job Center, a tutoring service provided by Miami Valley Armstrong’s dogs, Ace and Rusty IT certifications, and
Career Technology Center. more.
She passed the exam and started her coursework at Hobart. Over To learn more about this program contact the Montgomery County
time, everything clicked. Workforce Development Office.
“I could really tell a difference as I went through the program. I Reprinted with permission from Montgomery County’s Workforce
could even tell from pictures that I was getting better. You can see Development Division
how my stance got more confident.”
Her struggles were only exacerbated by her gender, but her passion
for welding shone through.

www.welding.org - 25 - 2021 SPRING/SUMMER ISSUE
Return to Table of Contents