Graduate Connections – Meet Thomas McNairy

Thomas, 35, was born in Athens, Ohio, but grew up in South Flint, Michigan, specifically Grand Blanc. He completed the seven-month Professional Welder program at Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville in October 2025, before adding extra Pipefitting classes which he completed in January 2026.

Thanks for your time, Thomas. What did you do after high school before attending welding school.

After I graduated high school, I honestly didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. One night I saw an ad on TV for the U.S. Army. I was hanging out with a couple of buddies, probably drinking, and said, “Hey, let’s go sign up.” I was the only one who actually followed through with it. I served three years of active duty and then completed the remainder of my eight-year commitment in the Inactive Ready Reserve.

Thank you for your service. What did you do after the Army?

After I left active duty, I moved back to Michigan and stayed with my mom for a while. During that time, I also went to automotive school at the University of Northwestern Ohio. Unfortunately, I didn’t finish that program. Coming out of the military, I was dealing with a lot of PTSD, and I didn’t really know how to adjust to civilian life. I was struggling mentally and eventually had to spend some time in a psychiatric ward, which disrupted my schooling. After that, my dad came out and asked me to move to Colorado with him. From about 2015 to 2022, I bounced back and forth between Colorado and Michigan.

Thanks for sharing that. What kind of work were you doing during that time?

Most of my work was automotive-related. I know how to do body work, work on engines, and rebuild parts – I’m a pretty solid all-around mechanic.

When did you first try welding?

I first got interested in welding in high school. My school had a skill center, which was where students could learn different skilled trades. I took welding classes there for about two years, and that’s where I started to fall in love with it. My dad had also done some welding, so that influenced me as well.

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Did you continue working with welding?

A little bit. When I moved to Colorado, I started working for a fencing company. I told them I had some welding experience, so they let me do some welding work for them. Around that time, I also tried going back to automotive school again to be a diesel mechanic. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out because of the weather. I lived about two and half hours away from school in Denver; the roads were often completely snowed over, or mountain passes were closed. We had avalanches and terrible winter conditions that made it impossible to get to school consistently.

So how did you eventually end up in Florida and at Tulsa Welding School?

From 2022 to 2025 I was back in Michigan living with my mom. I did factory work, construction jobs, and a little automotive work. Then my girlfriend and I broke up; I decided I needed a change. I started researching welding schools. I searched for the best welding schools in the country and that’s when I came across Tulsa Welding School. I’d wanted to move to Florida for a long time, so when I saw that TWS has a campus in Jacksonville, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to move somewhere new and pursue welding.

Let’s talk about your experience at welding school. What did you enjoy most about the program?

I really liked how knowledgeable and helpful the instructors were. They didn’t just teach one way to weld. Different instructors would show you different techniques and let you figure out what worked best for you. They’d demonstrate something and then step back and let you practice and learn. They weren’t constantly hovering. That independence helped a lot because you could experiment and develop your own approach.

Did having welding experience from high school make the program easier for you?

It definitely helped. I already understood some basics, and I wasn’t starting from scratch. That said, there were still struggles. Anytime you learn something new or try to improve your skills, there will be challenges.

When those struggles came up, how did you deal with them?

For me, managing frustration was important, especially because of my PTSD. If I reach a point where I’m overwhelmed, I know I need to step away and control my anger. Sometimes I would take breaks to cool down – both mentally and physically – because welding shops get really hot. There were even a few days when I left early because I was having an off day. I also spent time watching welding videos online and reviewing the curriculum materials in the school’s app to see where I could improve. Social media helped too, because I follow a lot of welding content and see different techniques all the time.

Did you work while attending Tulsa Welding School?

No. I receive disability payments once a month, and during school I was receiving additional support that allowed me to focus fully on the program. That was really important to me. In the past when I tried to go to school, I was working at the same time. At one point I was working three jobs while attending automotive school, and that made it extremely difficult to finish.

Congratulations on finishing school this time around. Where are you working?

I just started working for King’s Fence in Jacksonville. Actually, today was my third day there. I’m building gates for the fences they install. That includes automated gates, swing gates, cantilever gates, and roller gates. I handle the welding side of things. After welding, I’ll clean the metal and apply galvanized spray, so it’s protected from rust before it gets painted later.

How did you end up getting the job at King’s Fence?

I spoke with one of the staff at the school and explained that I wanted to work for a smaller, family-run company rather than a large corporate operation. Don’t get me wrong – big companies have great resources – but I wanted to learn the business side of things. At a small shop, I can interact directly with the owner and see how they run the company, manage their books, and handle customers. That experience will be valuable later on because my long-term goal is to start my own business.

How do you feel about the pay starting out?

I’m happy. We agreed on $20 an hour to start, and the owner told me that after 90 days he wants me closer to $25 an hour once I’ve taken on more responsibility and can handle projects more independently.

Looking ahead, what are your long-term career goals?

Ultimately, I’d like to open my own welding business. I think I’ll start out as a mobile welder so I can build a client base and get a better understanding of where the work opportunities are. Later on, I’d like to open a physical shop once I have enough experience and connections.

What do you enjoy most about welding?

For me, it’s the focus. As soon as I start welding, everything else fades into the background. Whatever stress or problems I have, they just disappear for a while. It’s something I genuinely enjoy doing, and I know it’s something I want to do for the rest of my life. As soon as that first spark hits, I feel happier.

Do you think welding helps with managing your PTSD?

I wouldn’t say it calms it down once it starts, but it helps prevent it from getting going in the first place. By the time I get to work and start welding, my mind is focused on the task in front of me. I know I’m good at what I do, and that confidence helps a lot.

Did you make connections with other students while you were in school?

I stayed in touch with a few instructors and some classmates. Some of them live here, while others moved back to places like Illinois or Georgia. We went through school together, so there’s definitely a bond.

Finally, what advice would you give to new students starting at Tulsa Welding School?

My biggest advice is to learn how to manage your emotions. Welding can be frustrating at times. There will be moments when you feel like you can’t figure something out, no matter how many times someone shows you. When that happens, it’s easy to get angry or want to quit. But if welding is something you truly want to do, you have to push through those moments. Feel your emotions, recognize them, but don’t let them control your decisions. Stick with it, keep practicing, and eventually it will click.

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).