Blazing a Trail: CSF Scholar Emma’s Journey to a Promising Career
College Success Foundation Scholar Emma starts her day bright and early, waking up at 5 a.m. to start work as a welder at Janicki Industries, an engineering and manufacturing company in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. On days she isn’t working, she’s pursuing her Associate of Technical Arts degree in Welding Technology at Skagit Valley College (SVC). Despite her busy schedule, she is also a member of the college’s volleyball team and contributed to their outstanding season this past fall.
Left, Emma, number 6, plays volleyball for the Skagit Valley College Cardinals. Right, her welding program classmates show their support at a recent game.
As a young person, Emma considered a career in fashion design, but everything changed when she took a high school welding class during the pandemic. That’s when she discovered her talent and passion for the craft. She quickly realized it was a path she could excel in and build a fulfilling career around.
“I was terrified, absolutely terrified to do it,” Emma remembers. “And once I finally got the hang of it, I thought, I’m actually good at this. And they couldn’t get rid of me after that.”
Welding is a joining process that produces coalescence, the growing together of grain structures, of materials by heating them up with or without the application of pressure and/or filler metal. It enables the creation of things like buildings, bridges, vehicles and machinery.
Emma connected with her CSF advisor, Victor, when she was in 12th grade at Mount Vernon High School. At this point, she was confident she wanted to become a welder and needed to find the right program. Luckily, one was very accessible, only five minutes away from her home. As a freshman, Emma values being able to live at home, attend classes nearby and still experience college life by spending her days on campus.
“I discovered that as I was getting into my high school graduation year, I needed more support. CSF helped with finding scholarships and learning about how I would transition from high school to college,” explains Emma. “When I decided to come to SVC, that’s when CSF coach Ariana was there to take me under CSF’s wing.”
Forging a successful college and career path
CSF advisors and coaches help students explore career paths by providing guidance through workshops, field trips, career quizzes and one-on-one conversations. Ariana explains: “We work with students to identify careers that align with their interests and goals while also helping them understand the degrees or certifications required to pursue those careers.”
In Washington, more than 70% of anticipated job openings will require education beyond high school, with many requiring college degrees or other post-secondary credentials.
“For students who want to start working sooner or prefer hands-on learning, associate degrees or certificates can be a great fit,” shares Ariana. “Many of my students also gain work experience in their field while studying, allowing them to build skills and connections and earn some money before graduation.”
Throughout Emma’s two-year welding program at SVC, students focus on three different kinds of welding, growing their skill sets and getting certifications along the way. This allows students to hit the ground running when it comes time to graduate. After graduation, Emma plans to take the Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) test, which will set her apart by boosting her skills and pay.
“When people hear the word ‘college,’ they often think of the traditional four-year university experience,” says Ariana. “However, that’s not the only path to success. Two-year degrees and certificate programs are becoming increasingly popular because they offer direct entry into the workforce and can lead to well-paying, in-demand careers.”
Women in welding
Emma works on her welding skills.
Emma is one of only two women in her welding program cohort of 17 students. At her job, there is just one other woman on the floor during the week, and on weekends, she is the only woman there. Despite this, Emma feels welcomed and supported by her fellow welders, who have fostered a strong sense of camaraderie.
“My classmate, Grace, is like my ride or die. I met her on day one,” recalls Emma. “I was thankful there was another girl here. Otherwise, it would have just been me.”
According to the American Welding Society, women comprise about 5% of the welding workforce. In the coming years, the field will also see a significant number of retirees, so the demand for skilled welders will be high.
“The students in my program here at SVC and my co-workers, I see them more as friends and family, and they treat me as the same,” expresses Emma. “I’ve heard, ‘Oh, you’re in a man’s field,’ but I feel like it’s changing. I’ve seen more women get into it, and I want more women to get into it.”