Graduate Connections – Meet Austin Barnett

Austin, 21, was born and raised in Frisco, Texas, a city located about 25 miles north of Dallas. Austin completed the seven-month Refrigeration Technologies program at our Tulsa Welding School – Dallas Metro campus in August 2026.

Thanks for your time, Austin. What did you do before enrolling at Tulsa Welding School?

I graduated high school in 2023 and a couple of months later I went into corrections. For a little while, I worked in a car shop where we worked on European cars – BMWs, Aston Martins, Bentleys and things like that. I enjoyed being around the cars, but I didn’t want to make a career out of it. Those European cars can be difficult to work on because the parts are scattered around compared with American cars.

So, I started working at a state penitentiary in August 2023. I’m still there part-time. I mainly work weekends during visitation hours. I’ve actually been working security since I was 16, and I moved into armed security when I was 18.

What made you interested in refrigeration and HVAC?

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Honestly, it was the better pay and seeing other people doing it. I knew people who had gone to community college for HVAC, and they were coming straight out of school making a lot more money than I was. That definitely caught my attention.

Why did you choose Tulsa Welding School instead of community college?

I wanted to get straight to the point and graduate faster. Tulsa Welding School was a quicker path to getting the training I needed and getting into the field.

Had you always planned on going into a skilled trade?

No. For a while, I was actually pursuing law enforcement. I wanted to become a patrol officer and eventually work my way toward SWAT. That was the direction I thought I was going in, but things changed, and HVAC opened up some different opportunities for me.

Did you have any previous experience with HVAC or electrical work?

No, I was completely fresh to it. I didn’t have a family member or anyone teaching me about HVAC beforehand. I was starting from scratch.

How did you find the program when you started with no experience?

It was somewhat easy for the most part. I felt like I picked up on it pretty naturally.

What do you think helped you succeed?

I really focused on taking notes. I paid attention to what the instructors were teaching and made sure I wrote things down so I could go back and remember them.

Did you do anything outside of class to help yourself learn?

I watched the videos that the school sent us, but I didn’t really watch a lot of extra videos outside of that. I know some people watch more stuff on YouTube, but I didn’t. Most of what I needed was right there in the program.

Were there times when you found things difficult?

Yeah. I found it more difficult when we were working on our own instead of in groups. That’s when I would reach out to the instructors if I needed some extra help.

Did you ever stay late or come in early for extra practice?

Sometimes. If I needed the extra time, I would stay and get some additional practice, but not often.

What did you enjoy most about your seven months in school?

I enjoyed learning all about HVAC and getting to know people. I made a lot of connections with people in different classes, and that’s something I’ll take with me after school.

Have you stayed in touch with your classmates?

Yes, definitely. We’ve maintained those connections, and we’ve got a little network going. It’s good to have people you can stay in touch with and share opportunities with.

You graduated last month. Have you found a job yet?

Not yet. I’m still looking. Honestly, it’s been slow going so far, but I’m still looking and trying to find the right opportunity. Rahsaan in Career Services has been putting opportunities out there for me and helping with things like getting my résumé in front of employers.

What kind of HVAC work are you looking for?

I’m open to residential or commercial. Really, I’m looking for anything in the field where I can get started, build some experience and keep learning.

Are you looking locally or would you be willing to travel?

I’m looking locally. I’m not really trying to travel for work.

You were working as a corrections officer while going through school. How did you manage that?

I worked part-time on the weekends while I was in school, which helped me get through the program. During the weekdays, I did some side hustles, but I was able to keep my schedule around school.

Why did you decide it was time to move on from corrections?

Part of it was wanting better pay, but I was also tired of the hours. I was working 12- to 18-hour days and sometimes getting only two or three hours of sleep. I wanted a career that could give me better opportunities without having to keep working those kinds of hours. I wanted something more rewarding.

So, looking back, HVAC is a pretty big change from what you were doing before.

It is, but I’m looking forward to it. I’m ready to learn, get some experience and see where it takes me.

What do you think you’ll enjoy most about working in HVAC?

Helping people. That’s something I’ve always enjoyed doing. If somebody has a problem and I can come in, figure it out and help get things working again, that’s something I’d enjoy about the job.

What are your long-term career goals?

Right now, I just want to get my foot in the door, start working and build up my experience. Once I have that experience, I’ll have a better idea of what I want to do long term. Eventually, I’d like to be in a position where I can start my own business.

I’m not sure yet whether it will specifically be an HVAC business or something else, but I know I want to build something of my own down the line. For me, HVAC is a good opportunity to learn a trade, gain experience and give myself more options in the future.

What advice would you give someone starting at Tulsa Welding School?

Take notes and ask questions. That’s probably the biggest thing. If you don’t understand something, ask the instructors. And make sure you’re actually paying attention and taking in what they’re teaching you.

If you’re a TWS graduate and would like to share your success and be an inspiration to others, please email [email protected] to be considered for a Graduate Connection interview. Please include details such as your graduation date (month/year), program, and campus name (Tulsa/Jacksonville/Houston/Dallas/Atlanta/Phoenix).