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TaLeah, 19, born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, completed the seven-month Professional Welder program at Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville in December 2022, before adding extra Pipefitting classes which she completed in February 2023. In 2025, TaLeah came back to TWS in Jacksonville to earn her AOS in Welding Technology. She graduated from the AOS program in February 2026, all before she turns 20.
Thanks for your time, TaLeah. That’s quite an achievement; what age did you graduate high school?
I was 16 when I graduated high school. I actually had some welding experience before I started at TWS. I grew up around blue-collar workers. My dad’s a diesel mechanic; my uncle’s a millwright welder. I’ve also always been really into cars, and I was part of a car group where they would sometimes ask me to do small fabrication work. Being around all that gave me the motivation and encouragement to pursue welding.
Were you always going to go to welding school?
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When I first graduated, I didn’t really know what line of work I wanted to pursue. I was working as a caretaker for people with memory loss at assisted living facilities; at one point I thought I might go into that field, but after starting welding school I realized quickly that welding is what I really want to do.
How did you discover TWS?
Tulsa Welding School actually had a booth at my high school graduation ceremony. I spoke with them and they contacted me over the next few days. I spent some time thinking about it before committing, but eventually I decided to go check it out. They gave me a full tour and explained how the program worked. After that, I said, “Sign me up – I’m ready to go.” I started at TWS on May 1, 2022.
When did you finish the program?
I completed the welding program in December 2022. After that, I went back and did the pipefitting classes.
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Why did you add the pipefitting classes instead of signing up from the start?
At first, I was hesitant about taking the welding course at all. I’m not a big math person, so that made me nervous, and pipefitting involves more math. But after finishing the welding portion, I saw other students graduating and the types of jobs they were getting. It looked like a great opportunity, so I decided to take the risk and enroll in the program. It’s just an additional three months.
How did that go?
Interestingly, I ended up doing the pipefitting portion alone because my partner quit during the first week. That was challenging, but it pushed me to really focus and get more hands-on experience.
Even with your prior experience, did you struggle when you first started the welding program?
Yes. I hadn’t done stick welding, TIG welding, or pipe welding before, so those were difficult at first. I was more familiar with flux-core welding from working with my family.
How did you overcome those struggles?
A lot of practice. I also talked with one of the instructors, Mr. Paul. I wanted honest feedback on my welds. My welds were good, but I wanted to be better. Seeing other students improve pushed me to work harder. There were days I got frustrated and even cried, but it motivated me to keep going and improve. Good wasn’t good enough for me, I wanted to be great.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about what motivated you?
One of the biggest motivations for me was my mom. Around that time, she was dealing with serious health issues and was losing her eyesight. Seeing that made me realize I wanted to pursue a career that I truly loved. I didn’t want to wake up every day doing something that drained me. I wanted to build a future by doing something meaningful.
How is your mom doing now?
She’s doing better. She had two brain surgeries within a couple of months, but she’s recovering well. She’s very happy that I found a career I enjoy. She’s proud that I’m able to take care of both myself and her.
So, you finished Pipefitting in February 2023. When did you decide to return for the associate degree?
June 2025. The school actually reached out and suggested I might be a good fit for the degree program. During the welding and pipefitting programs, and after, I was at the school almost every day. I couldn’t get a regular blue-collar job at the time because I was under 18, the age required to work on most construction sites. So instead, I spent that time practicing. I was there from when they opened until around 11 p.m. most days, just working on my skills. I wanted to master the craft and keep improving.
Did that extra practice pay off?
Definitely. By building up my TIG, flux-core, and stick welding skills, I landed better job opportunities. I actually bought my first welding machine when I first graduated from TWS because I was getting turned down for jobs due to my age. So, I decided to start doing small jobs on my own while continuing to practice.
I understand you got your merchant mariner credentials. When and why did you do that?
In 2024. I decided to go back to school briefly – it was only a week – to get my merchant seaman credentials. That was something I wanted in case I decide to pursue offshore welding later on.
Forward planning! What did you enjoy most about your experience at TWS?
One of the things I enjoyed most was helping other students. I was a student ambassador. That gave me time to practice my own skills and help others gain confidence and motivation to keep going in the program.
When did you get your first welding job?
I started my first welding job at 17 at a small shop called Huey’s Welding, outside of Waycross, Georgia. I drove every day from Jacksonville, which is about two hours away. They gave me my first opportunity. I started out making $17 an hour; I was grateful for the opportunity even though I spent four hours a day driving. I did that for about six months. We built machines that run on railroad tracks. I specifically worked on building the doors for the sweepers.
What happened after that job?
Once I turned 18, I started working at a shipyard in Jacksonville called Fincantieri Marine Repair. I started as a fire watch because they didn’t think I’d pass the weld test. I don’t exactly look like the typical construction site welder – I wear lashes and nails – so they assumed I wasn’t serious about it. After about a week, I asked them to give me a weld test. They were hesitant, but they agreed. I passed it with flying colors, and they promoted me to a first-class structural welder.
That’s fantastic. What kind of work did you do?
It was a marine repair company that worked on Navy vessels. We would bring ships into dry dock, cut out damaged sections, measure everything, fabricate new pieces, and weld them back into place. It was contract work, so I worked there for about five months.
Where are you working now?
Right now, I’m working for Stellar Energy. It’s a facility partnered with Google and AI projects to build chillers. I started in September 2025 while completing my associate degree in welding technology. Now I have the degree, they’re planning to promote me into a QC (quality control) position.
You started your career at $17 an hour. Have you seen steady increases since then?
Yes. After getting experience and moving to the shipyard job, I started making about $30 an hour. Later, doing other contract work – including Navy submarines – I earned $28-$32 an hour depending on the project.
You’re still young and already doing very well. What’s your long-term career plan?
I’m planning to move to Texas in the next couple of months. Texas has a lot of blue-collar opportunities, and I already have three job offers lined up there, two in Dallas and one in Houston. My goal is to continue building experience and eventually move into QC full-time. I also want to invest in a truck so I can expand my own welding work on the side.
Earlier you mentioned offshore welding. Is that still something you might pursue?
Yes, it’s an option for the future. I like to keep different paths open. Long-term, I’d like to build experience, keep working, and maybe in five years start a foundation that helps people get into welding. I want to help people learn a trade they enjoy so they can build a better life.
What do you enjoy most about being a welder?
I’ve always loved art, so welding feels creative to me. TIG welding especially gives you a lot of control. I also like being able to work independently and really focus on what I’m doing. There’s something fascinating about taking two pieces of metal and joining them together with wire, gas, and electricity to create structures that can hold huge ships or frames together. That process really excites me.
Did you stay in touch with classmates after school?
Yes. I still talk to a lot of people. Some of them work for welding companies, and others I’ve run into again at shipyards. There’s one guy who started school with me who was very unsure about becoming a welder, and I tried to encourage him. Now he’s doing great and making good money because he stuck with it. We also have a few group chats, and we text each other about job openings or opportunities that come up.
What advice would you give to new students starting at Tulsa Welding School?
Don’t give up. At first it can seem difficult and a little intimidating, especially if you’re worried about getting burned or making mistakes. But if you take your time and stay motivated, the skills will come. Don’t be afraid to take on challenges and push yourself. Don’t be scared to take on the world.
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).
