When I finished welding school, I wasn’t sure I would ever get a job “in industry.” I didn’t want the fun to go out of welding by doing it all day and then having no interest in creating metal art and other cool stuff. But, my opportunity to move to the Flint Hills meant I needed to find work in the area. A friend recommended I contact a local welding company that needed some help. One phone call and an in-person visit and I had the job!

We build hog houses and cattle chutes. Every day is something new. No surprise there since I’ve never done anything like this. It’s hot, dirty work and I’m pretty wiped out at the end of my 10-hour shift. Physical exhaustion is so much better than mental exhaustion! I swear I’ve been more of a zombie after a day in an air conditioned cubicle than any day welding so far! And, that’s welding in 100* Kansas humidity wit long sleeves, jeans, leather gloves, work boots, a hat and a hood. At the end of the day, my clothes look like this.

They’re hanging on the line, pre-washing machine, because I’m not just dirty, but soaked with sweat, too!

Sometimes, my face looks like this.

STILL better than a day in an office!

Oh, and my uniforms arrived recently. I’ve weirdly always wanted a job that included a shop shirt with my name on it. Plus… no more washing gross laundry, someone else does that!

The saying goes “Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I’m not sure I agree 100% with that, but it certainly makes for a much better life when you really like the job you’re doing!