TWS is a Great Training Option for Everyone
Learn more about how we can prepare you to advance your career.
Ryan, 18, from Nashville, Georgia, completed the nine-and-a-half-month Welding Specialist with Pipefitting program at Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville in November 2024.
Thanks for your time, Ryan. You enrolled at Tulsa Welding School right out of high school?
I actually graduated a semester early, so I could go to Tulsa Welding School at the start of 2024. We had a welding program in my high school. I started welding in 10th grade. I took it for three semesters and a representative from TWS came to school to tell us about their programs; that’s what got me down here.
What was it that got you excited to go to welding school?
Have You Considered a Career in the Skilled Trades?
Fill out the form to recieve a no obligation info packet.
Both the career potential, and honestly, I just like welding! I just like having the hood down and welding.
Did you do any welding before high school? With family?
No, that high school program was my first time hearing about welding. But after that program I did do some welding for my grandpa at his barn. We welded the mower for his tractor. He had an old welding machine and hood, so I was able to weld with that and get some extra practice.
You’re still 18, so how old were you when you left home for welding school? And was that hard?
I was 17 when I first started welding school, but then I turned 18 for most of the program. It was rough at first, especially trying to find a job because people couldn’t hire a 17-year-old, and I didn’t want to work at fast food places. After I turned 18, I got a job at Countryside Property Maintenance, just picking up trash. But overall, it was pretty cool. Everything was really close by.
New: Industrial Maintenance
Learn About Our New Advanced Industrial Maintenance Program
Tulsa Welding School is proud to announce our newest program offering available at our Houston & Dallas Metro Campuses – Advanced Industrial Maintenance Technology! Learn the skills you need to take on the industries of manufacturing, distribution, energy production and facility maintenance in as few as 7 months.
So, how far is it from Nashville, GA, to TWS in Jacksonville?
It doesn’t feel too far. It’s only two hours and 40 minutes from home.
What did you enjoy most about your time at TWS?
I would say the teachers, staff, and the other people there – my classmates. Everyone was very respectful, and very helpful if you ever needed any help during the program.
Were there lots of people your age in class?
Actually, it was mostly older people there. There were a lot of people twice my age. It was good; I felt like that kind of prepared me for work, because I’m working with older people at work.
Did you sign up for the pipefitting course at the outset, or just welding?
No, I just enrolled in the Professional Welder program first. In the second to last phase of that program, I decided to add the two and a half months to complete the Pipefitting. I just decided I’d rather have all the experience I could going into the workplace. You know what I mean?
It’s never a bad thing to have more skills. How did you find the program, Ryan?
I already knew a little about welding from my time in high school, so it was kind of easy starting out. But then things got more complicated in the last few phases, when they started actually testing our welds. I did Stick and MIG in high school, but it wasn’t anything near the level of what we did at Tulsa Welding School. We were just welding on flat plates in high school, this went a lot further into it.
Did you enjoy all the hands-on welding time?
Yeah. I learned a lot through failure; and you could bring any weld up to the teachers and they would tell you how you could do it better. They give you a lot of time to do the projects, so you can keep trying to improve them.
So, you finished school in November, where are you working and how did you get the job?
I am working for Stellar Energy in Jacksonville. They came into the school and took students through what they call Phase 11, which was specifically training us for a couple of weeks on their weld test. The students that passed the bend test would get hired on.
That’s awesome – congratulations? Did they hire on a bunch of you?
I think there were about 20 of us in the class, but I don’t know how many got hired on. I was never told, but I think it was the majority. It’s a big place; I haven’t seen any of them yet.
What are you doing for Stellar? And are you enjoying it?
I’m doing structural welding. We’re building supercomputer coolers, these huge chillers that cool computer and server rooms. It’s pretty good, yeah. I’ve met a few friends. My shift is 6am to 2pm five days a week, and I get overtime too if I want it. I work most Saturdays for the overtime.
Were you happy with your first paycheck, Ryan?
Oh yeah, it was amazing. That put a really big smile on my face; that paycheck that made it all worth it. I made in a week what I made picking up trash in a month! After 90 days, I’ll get a review, and we’ll see what’s next. I’m pretty sure they’re happy with me; I know I’ve gotten better since I first started there.
What’s your career plan from here? At 18, you have all the time in the world!
I’ll definitely stay here for a while because I want to save up for a vehicle, so I can go travel welding. I’d like to go work on the pipeline; that’s where the big bucks is in welding, right there. It’s the best thing to get into. I’ll travel around the country and make as much as I can while I’m young. I hear it’s pretty intense, and not something you can do forever.
I’ve heard that. Not good if you have a family. What do you enjoy most about this new trade, Ryan?
Man, I just like welding. I don’t know, I just enjoy having my hood down and welding…but the money is really good too.
Do you have classmates you will stay in touch with?
Yeah, definitely. We have a group chat. I think there’s 10 people on that chat, and six/eight of them got hired on already.
What advice do you have for someone to be successful at Tulsa Welding School?
Stay motivated and keep your hood down and weld. The more you practice, the better you’ll get.
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).
