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Paul, 32, was born in Augusta, GA, grew up in a small town called Wrens, GA, before moving to Atlanta when he was nine. Paul graduated from the Electro-Mechanical Technologies (EMT) program at Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville in June 2025.
Thanks for your time, Paul. What did you do before enrolling at TWS?
After graduating high school, I went to Atlanta Metropolitan State College for two semesters but decided it wasn’t for me. I worked at Kroger, that was my first job at age 18/19, then I worked at a formalwear store measuring customers for suits.
After a couple of years, a friend’s dad – who’d helped raise me – called one morning, told me to get dressed, and took me to the Army recruiting office. That’s how I enlisted. I served in the U.S. Army from September 2014 to February 2018. My discharge wasn’t honorable – it was “general under honorable conditions,” which is one step down. Because of that, I didn’t receive benefits like the GI Bill. From the criteria, I should have received an honorable discharge, so it was a blow. I had to start over from scratch.
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Thank you for your service. When you came out in 2018 without benefits, what happened next?
I didn’t work for about a year. It was a tough time. My (second) wife supported me while I used my last military checks for rent and bills. We were living in Killeen, Texas, where I’d been stationed at Fort Hood. Things got really tough, and we got a divorce, and I moved back to Atlanta to live with my mom. I got a job at a call center, but later I had to leave my mom’s house, and I lived in my car briefly until my cousin took me in.
Around that time, after my second marriage ended, I was thinking about rejoining the military; I had even reached out to a recruiter. But then I reconnected with my first wife Toni, the mother of my kids, when she came home from Korea. Toni was also in the Army. We got back together and moved down to Fort Stewart, Georgia, then back to Killeen when she was stationed there from 2021 to 2024. I was working cleaning carpets with a military maintenance company. Finally, we moved to Jacksonville when she transitioned out of active duty to the National Guard in 2024.
How did you decide to attend Tulsa Welding School?
In Texas, Toni met a Tulsa Welding School representative, Mr. Salazar, through the Army’s TAPS transition program. At first, I didn’t want to go to the meeting, but his presentation about the HVAC/EMT program, the career potential, and stability for my family sold me. We moved to Jacksonville specifically for me to attend school, and Toni enrolled in the Welding program.
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That’s cool. Did you have any prior experience in the HVAC field?
No. I was a plumber in the military, so I knew tools and working with my hands, but electronics and wiring were new to me.
What did you enjoy most about your time at TWS?
The patience of the instructors. They made sure we understood the work, if we put in the effort. They weren’t going to babysit us, but if we showed up to class, they were there for us – 100%. They’d say, “I won’t let you fail, as long as you do your part.” They made sure we got extra practice if we needed it, they’d even come in on their day off. It shocked me how committed they were to see us succeed.
How did you find the program? Any moments you thought about quitting?
Absolutely – the first week! I was overwhelmed, I saw all these panel boards, and wirings, ands diagrams. I was trying to learn everything at once, rather than piece by piece. Because I’d not been in a learning environment in a little while, I was trying to absorb too much too quickly. I told my wife I might just get a job at FedEx instead, but she convinced me to stick it out. By week two, it started to click.
You’re now working for a company called Apartner?
Yes, Apartner is a small, family-run company that provides maintenance staff to apartment complexes. I’m on a 90-day trial period, doing basic maintenance, outside work, and fire watch inspections, but I’m already earning great pay with benefits. This is already one of the best jobs I’ve had in my life financially. If I make it through the trial period, I’ll go full-time. It will be facilities maintenance, basically. With my plumbing from the Army, plus electrical and HVAC from the EMT program, I have so many skills they need.
Congratulations! How did you find the job?
Ms. Maureen in Career Services at Tulsa Welding School helped me. She saved my life. She’d ask me what I needed; if I sent her something, she’d respond to me in a reasonable time. She really worked with me. There were like three other companies that I was supposed to work with, but they didn’t come through. She was like, “Don’t worry Paul, I’m going to send you something in about two or three days, just give me some time.” She sent me a few opportunities, and I went to the interviews, and sure enough, Apartner was the company that chose me.
That’s awesome. What’s your long-term plan?
In the next couple of years, I want to move back to Atlanta, hopefully transfer with Apartner or find work there. Because I’m universally certified now, I can find good-paying work anywhere. Ideally, I’d like to retire early and enjoy life with my family.
And your wife?
She went through Tulsa Welding School too, graduated from the Professional Welder program, and is now pursuing her associate degree in Welding Technology at TWS – she wants to become a Welding Inspector.
That’s a great plan! What do you enjoy most about having a trade?
I enjoy the flexibility, and the security. When you have a trade, there’s always work, and you’ll always have opportunities. You control your own destiny.
What advice do you have for new students starting at Tulsa Welding School?
Listen and pay attention. You’re in control. If you want to do something, you can do it. Communicate with your instructors – if you can’t make it to class for some reason, tell them. They can’t help you if they don’t know what’s going on. You can’t fail if you apply yourself and put in the effort. Ask questions, take notes, and apply yourself. You’ll be just fine.
Thanks for sharing your journey, Paul. To finish, tell us about your family.
So, we have an 11-year-old, a 9-year-old from our first marriage, and now we also have a 4-year-old, a 3-year-old, and one on the way from our second marriage. It has been quite the journey!
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).
