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Victoria, 26, from Tampa, FL, graduated from the Electro-Mechanical Technologies (EMT) program at Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville in August 2025. But that is not the only skilled trades program Victoria has completed at TWS.
Thanks for your time, Victoria. So, what other TWS programs have you done?
I started the Professional Welder program in December of 2022; after the welding program, I decided to add on a couple of months of pipefitter classes and complete the Pipefitting program; I finished that in September of 2023. Then a year later, I enrolled in the seven-month Electrical Applications program, before deciding to then add the HVAC classes I needed to complete the Electro-Mechanical Technologies (EMT) program, which I finished last week.
That’s quite the achievement. What did you do in the year between Pipetting and Electrical?
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Well, I was in a Diesel Mechanic program, but then I switched. I was an engineman in the Navy – I worked with diesel engine auxiliary systems, and testing JP-5 fuel.
Did you go straight into the military after high school?
Yes, I joined at 17 and went straight to boot camp. I served in the United States Navy from 2017 to 2022. I decided to stay in Jacksonville after I got out.
Thank you for your service. What did you enjoy most about Tulsa Welding School?
How hard the staff and the instructors work for their students. They go really hard for you. Knowing that you can go there anytime and ask for help, that there’s always going to be someone available to help you out is great. It was just a good environment filled with genuine people.
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You’ve done four programs – did the work come easy for you or did you have difficult moments?
No, it was difficult working full-time and going to school full-time in the evenings. The Welding program especially was tough because of the physical aspect, I got tired, but I loved it. I was passionate about it. There were definitely moments, but I kept going by remembering that these struggles will pay off.
Tell us what you mean by that.
Just know that all your hard work counts for something, and that if you don’t do it, no one’s going to do it for you. So, it may be uncomfortable now, you might struggle with school and juggling work, but when it all comes together in due time, everything will work out for the best. Your hard work now is going to pay off in the future.
So, why did you choose welding after you got out?
I was introduced to welding in the military, but it wasn’t my main job. Once I got out, I decided to use my GI Bill for welding school. The plan was to get a welding job, but other opportunities came up. I got out of the military on a Friday and started a government contracting job doing diesel work the following Monday. I went to welding school at TWS in the evenings.
After welding school, you moved onto Pipefitting classes – were you still doing diesel contracting work?
Yes, I worked there for 18 months or so before I moved to Stellar Energy doing fabrication in 2024. That’s where I really got civilian-side experience in welding and pipefitting.
Did you get that job at Stellar with the help of school?
Yes, I worked with Tracy Griffin in Career Services. She set me up with the opportunity. I started as a helper and worked my way up through pipefitting and then welding.
Are you still with Stellar Energy?
No. I was just stacking up as much experience and knowledge as possible there, and my plan was to hit the road to do travel welding and pipefitting. But I reached out to Tracy in Career Services again, just in case there were any other opportunities to stay in Jacksonville that would be great for me.
And she had something for you?
Yes, she mentioned Aggreko, it’s a bigger company and it was a great fit for me. It’s not primarily welding, but I am their welding person when they need it. But this job utilizes all the education that I’ve been through, including my experience. It uses all my skill sets including electrical work – breaker panels, transformers – as well as HVAC and refrigerant.
When did you start, and what are you doing for them in layman’s terms?
I started in June this year. I’m coming up on my three-month mark with them. My job title is Power Technician 1. I work with diesel generators, chillers, and air handlers. We provide cooling and power distribution systems for customers. We travel to customer sites anywhere from Savannah, Georgia, to Miami, Florida, doing preventive and corrective maintenance. I guess you could call it industrial HVAC work.
You’ve spent a lot of time learning the past three years. Are you motivated by money or education?
Education. I want to be the person that other people come to for knowledge and insight into these crafts – not the other way around. I want to expand my knowledge as much as possible, not just to have all my eggs in one basket, if that makes sense. Besides, once you build these skills, the money will come…but that doesn’t drive me.
What’s your career plan from here?
Stay with Aggreko for now. I believe all money isn’t good money, and I value the right environment and opportunities. It’s a worldwide company with a lot of potential for growth. I think there are a lot of things in store for me here, and I’m never in a rush to move too fast. I like to take my time, assess things, so that way I don’t regret anything in the future. I take the time to make the right decisions.
Are you happy with your current role and pay?
Yes – the money’s good, but the real value is the chance for growth and promotion here. I have more of a long-term view than short-term.
What do you enjoy most about working in the trades?
Working with my hands, I don’t mind working hard. Sometimes I just get lost in it. I enjoy the variety, the flexibility, and the freedom that comes with having so many different skills. I don’t feel cornered in one thing. It’s not like I’m doing the same thing repetitively every day, I do different things. It just makes me feel like I’m actually part of something great, and doing something that the average person could not do.
Did you make some friends, connections, at school?
Yes, both in Welding and HVAC. I’ve been able to network and share opportunities with others.
What’s your biggest piece of advice for new students just starting at TWS?
No matter how negative something is, try to find something positive in it for motivation. It’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be a cake walk, but if you’re able to find something positive within the negativity in your mind, you’ll go far. It’s the same when you get a job or are dealing with different work environments and people – try to find the positive and not focus on the negative.
Stay motivated, be kind, stay positive, and keep going – your hard work will 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).
