Just need a little advice, words of wisdom, e.t.c.

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I'm 18 years old, and have no experience welding.  Until about last year, my goal was a BS in Electrical Engineering.  I got in an early college start program at Austin Community College and was doing well for myself in school.  Sometime last year, a nagging thought sprouted that I don't want to be stuck behind a desk or in podium or cubicle.  I didn't want to spend all those years in school and end up with a well-paying job to hardly use any of those skills.Enter welding.  Next week on Tuesday, my welding classes begin. This is the last class I can take for free on the early college start program, so I'm test driving it.  If I enjoy it as much as I enjoy the concept of welding, I'll take a Layout and Fab class in the fall. Eventually, I want to head to a diving academy and get into underwater welding as a "steady job."  When I feel the need to settle down, I'll come back home and do more domestic welding.My specific question involves certifications and degrees. What are the certifications you'd want to aim for? Right now, I'm only aware of welding certification itself.  What should I set my goals to?Thanks welders!
Reply:I wouldn't worry about being stuck behind a desk at this point in your life.  Even as an electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, or welding engineer, you won't necessarily have to be behind the desk, the opportunities to work with your hands are still available.Welding is a great field, there are a wide variety of career paths ranging from laying in a ditch under a pipeline, to programing automated equipment, and even sitting behind a desk as you mentioned.Something to keep in mind, there are many areas of knowledge outside of welding that will help you immensely in a welding career, particularly if you are going to be an effective welding technician or engineer.  Some of the areas that I've found apply to welding (and wish I was more knowledgeable about) are electrical, mechanical, machine control systems, drafting, metallurgy, physics, mathematics, and chemistry.  And less interesting, but probably most valuable, is good writing and speaking skills (if you don't know the answer, you can BS the boss till you find it).
Reply:Well, another area that I forgot to mention was money.  I have none.  My mom moved me out so she could go live with her boyfriend, and my dad couldn't afford to keep me around.  Things were pretty weird for a while.  Now that I've got a steady job, I'm back with my dad so that I can pay bills.  After bills and before food and gas money, I have about 100-200 dollars a month.  I don't have much flexibility as far as the amount of classes I can take.
Reply:Well, you can only do what can, one step at a time, you'll get to where you want to go eventually.May have to take fewer classes at first.  Are there any night or evening classes where you could work during the day?  Or day classes and work nights?  Talk to the welding instructor about beginning job opportunities.My welding instructor got me a part time job after school (junior college) cleaning the bathroom and showroom, and stocking shelves, etc. at a small welding supply house.  The next semester, he helped me get a evening welding job, then a summer job.  Maybe you could start out like this as well?Took me 5 years to get an AS degree in welding technology, then I took out loans for another 2 years to get a BS in welding engineering, then over the next 10 years got a MS in metallurgical engineering while working.  Now it seems like the time has flown by.Good luck, welding can be a very rewarding field.
Reply:Originally Posted by pulserWell, you can only do what can, one step at a time, you'll get to where you want to go eventually.May have to take fewer classes at first.  Are there any night or evening classes where you could work during the day?  Or day classes and work nights?  Talk to the welding instructor about beginning job opportunities.My welding instructor got me a part time job after school (junior college) cleaning the bathroom and showroom, and stocking shelves, etc. at a small welding supply house.  The next semester, he helped me get a evening welding job, then a summer job.  Maybe you could start out like this as well?Took me 5 years to get an AS degree in welding technology, then I took out loans for another 2 years to get a BS in welding engineering, then over the next 10 years got a MS in metallurgical engineering while working.  Now it seems like the time has flown by.Good luck, welding can be a very rewarding field.
Reply:Take the class you are going to take, seriously, and tell your instructor what you told us. It is good to have your goals in mind as you go. Short term and long term. In the short term, take this class while it's free and make the most of it!  Learn your basics well, the skills you acquire will never be out of fashion. Learn to use oxy/acetylene. Learn to arc weld with stick. These two skills are  cornerstones.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Keep that BS in the back of your mind.  Do the welding education first.  It can be your avenue to financing future educational paths.  I remember one guy with a blasting ticket.  He supported a family and went to university on the big bucks he made while other students struggled to make enough each summer to return to school.  There is always a demand for qualified welders and fitters and it will provide you with a non academic experience that will augment your degree.   Too many academics have zero practical experience yet are involved in organizing and developing procedures on a shop floor.  One comes to mind recently of a tolerance of plus or minus 0.5 millimetres on a flame cut tube approximately fifteen feet long.  Don't set the goal of a degree in stone.  Just park it idling in the background.
Reply:Originally Posted by AlbackpakI'm taking an evening class now so that I can work, it starts next week.  What kind of credits do you need for an AS in welding? Is it all metal and trade related, or do you have to do the "filler" classes, like language and arts?
Reply:I always loved building things, which is why I have a degree in Wood Products Technology.  I loved every class and thought I would be very happy in my career choice.When I went to find a Job It was very hard to find anything, let alone one that would leave me financially stable with those nice little perks like Medical and Dental.  So I made the hard decision to change my career path to something that will make me enough money to live comfortably and also have enough extra cash so I can build stuff as a hobby.  I got into a small construction company and worked my A$$ off every summer to make enough cash for much of my college. (I still had to take about $15,000 in student loans  )  I just wish I would have gone for the money making degree in the beginning so I wouldn't have the student loans I have now.MikeComputer nerd with a background in woodworkingMy Site  No Metal working stuff there yet.