Graduate Connections – Meet Kam Degregori

Kam, 29, was born and raised in Peru until the age of 10, when she moved to Houston, TX, with her family. Kam completed the seven-month Professional Welding program at the Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center (TWSTC) in Houston in late April 2025.  

Thanks for your time, Kam. What did you do before coming to Tulsa Welding School?

It was a whole different life. I’ve been in sales for the past 10 years. Even while I was in high school, I was doing side jobs – events, selling tickets, social media. I started there and kept going. I’ve done retail sales, I got my insurance license and sold insurance for a while, I’ve worked in restaurants like we all have. You know, I did general customer service, sales, marketing, and social media. That’s the world I was in before deciding to change direction.How did you end up at a trade school?

I just knew I wanted a big opportunity – I’ve always been ambitious and driven, but sales had got repetitive. Sure, I was making money, but it didn’t feel purposeful anymore. I’d lost my passion for it. I wanted to learn something new, something that would challenge me, something I could build a future with. College didn’t feel right – I didn’t want to spend four years studying something I wasn’t sure about. I didn’t even know what I might study, other than Business. So, I looked into trade schools in Houston, and Tulsa Welding School was the one that stood out.

So, where did the idea of welding come from? 

I originally planned to study HVAC. I went to the TWSTC campus, and the Student Advisor mentioned welding. I said, “Okay, I’ll check it out,” and as soon as I walked into the welding lab, I felt it. There was something about the space – I knew I had to be there. My thoughts switched from HVAC to Welding immediately. Even though I had no experience, I was just drawn to it.

You’d never done any welding in high school, or through family?

Nope, none. Zero experience. I had some friends who were welders, but no, I’d never tried it. I’ve always been into art – drawing, painting – but welding was totally new to me. It started as pure curiosity and a hunger to learn something challenging and different. I just said, “Let’s do it. Let’s go all in.”Did you keep working while you were in welding school, or were you able to focus on class?

I did full-time school and full-time work at AT&T. I only recently put in my two weeks’ notice because I have a welding job starting soon.

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Do you think you’ll continue your education? 

Yes, I’ve thought about adding more certifications that align with my career goals and can make me more well-rounded in the field. I definitely plan to keep learning and taking on more responsibility as my career progresses. Once I get started in the field, I’ll begin to learn more about that.

What did you enjoy most about your time at Tulsa Welding School?

I really enjoyed the challenge and competition. The instructors were great – if you wanted their help, they gave it. These are people with real world welding experience. I saw a lot of students who didn’t ask questions, but I was always asking, always trying to improve. Even on bad days, I’d reflect on my day that night and come back ready to try again. It wasn’t just about pass a test – it was about mastering the skill.On the bad days, did you ever have moments where you thought, “What have I got myself into?”

Not once. I was that committed. I knew this was my new passion. I welcomed the hard days – they fueled me. I made mistakes, but I treated them as opportunities to learn and get better. I just kept showing up.Did you have a support system to help with that?

Yes. Mainly my wife and the instructors, but it was also a lot of self-motivation. Even if I had a bad day, I wouldn’t talk about it like that – I’d just say it was a good day and come back determined to improve.So, you finished class in late April, here we are six weeks later. Let’s talk about your new job.

I will be relocating to Brownsville, TX, next week and starting with SpaceX on June 23rd

Congratulations! How did you get that opportunity with SpaceX?
Yeah, thanks – it was great timing. I had just graduated, and my Career Services Advisor mentioned a company that was hiring welders; I’d planned to do a weld test for them, but then another Advisor told me that SpaceX was coming to the school. I thought, “Okay, let’s do that one first!” SpaceX visited the school, gave a presentation, I took their weld test – which was tough – and I passed! That led to an in-person interview in Brownsville. It all happened fast – within about two weeks of graduating. I start in a couple of weeks. They already provided a relocation payment, which was a big help.

That’s awesome. So, do you know what you’ll be doing?

I’ll be doing TIG welding – mainly on stainless steel. We’ll start with orientation, and there’s a support system for the new hires too.You haven’t gotten your first paycheck yet, but are you happy with the starting pay?

Yes, I’m very happy. And with the relocation support already, it’s been a good experience. But more than the money, I’m excited to master the skill and grow in the career. That’s what I’m really looking forward to – advancing in this career. Plus, it’s a cool company to say that you work for! 

So, what’s your long-term career plan? Can you see yourself staying at SpaceX long-term? 

I’ve actually mapped out a vision. Over the next three to five years, I want to advance – master the skill, gain experience, network, and grow into leadership. I want to keep leveling up at SpaceX, and while I’m there, I plan to save, invest, and eventually start my own welding business.

I want to combine everything I’ve learned in sales, marketing, and business with my experience in welding. Maybe it takes five, maybe seven or ten years, but I see myself owning my own welding rig or shop, with multiple certifications, and building something of my own one day.What do you enjoy most about welding? 

I love the craftsmanship, the artistry. It’s hands-on, challenging, and creative in its own way. It requires focus, discipline, and precision – things I’ve always valued. It’s rewarding to see the progress in your work and know you’re building something real.

Did you make some connections, friends at school, people you’ll stay in touch with?

Yes. I’ve met some really cool people and I’m planning on staying in touch with them. I make my own social media content – I post videos and whatnot – so I’ve made friends with other welders on social media too. It’s really cool to see how big this community is, and there are a lot of opportunities that come along with that. It’s a lot of networking too.

What advice do you have for new students about to start at TWS for them to be successful?

If I was talking to myself eight months ago – somebody with no experience, no contacts – I’d say just go all in: have no doubts. Have certainty that if you put everything you’ve got into something that you’re 100% committed to learning, then when you have bad days or frustrating days – or even if it does come to, “Man, what am I doing here?” – if you go all the way in and finish it, it will be one of the best feelings you’ll ever have when you cross that finish line. 

Once you’ve graduated and you’ve got your first job lined up, you’ll realize that putting in all the work and all the effort was 100% worth it. You’ll see what you’re going to get out of this investment in yourself. That, to me, is valuable in itself, and it brought a lot of meaning to my life. I absolutely love everything that I did. I’m so proud of myself and I want other people to feel that pride in themselves too, like, “Wow, I made it…and now I’m going into a whole different career path and it’s going to pay off.”

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).