Embracing the Trades: A Thrilling Odyssey Beyond FedEx
Imagine a world where every day feels like an adventure—a world where your hands shape and create, where you're at the forefront of a revolution that's redefining industries. That's the thrilling reality of the skilled trades for me. It's not just a job; it's an exhilarating journey that's become a part of who I am.
What sets my pulse racing is the recognition of a widespread shortage of skilled labor in the United States. It's not just a problem; it's an urgent call to action echoing across industries. The demand for skilled professionals is soaring, and there's a glaring gap that needs passionate individuals. It's not just a challenge; it's an adrenaline-pumping opportunity to lead a revolution.
This isn't merely about securing employment; it's about rewriting the script of how we view skilled work. America is in dire need of skilled workers, affecting vital sectors. Skilled tradespeople are the backbone of our infrastructure, the guardians of safety, and the engines of economic growth.
My journey into the skilled trades was a leap into the extraordinary. Not long ago, I found myself behind the wheel of a FedEx delivery truck. It was a job that paid the bills, but it lacked the excitement of making a lasting impact.
Enter my friend, Christian, the catalyst for my journey. He'd begun a traditional four-year degree but then veered onto a different path, becoming an Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT). His story showcased the rewards of pursuing your passion and mastering your craft.
Inspired by Christian's transformation and driven by the pressing need for skilled workers, I embarked on my thrilling journey into the skilled trades, drawn to Aircraft Maintenance Technology. It's not just about my journey; it's about guiding others. I aspire to be a mentor, sharing my knowledge with emerging tradespeople.
And then there's my family—a motivation that keeps me pushing forward. As I embrace this journey, particularly in light of becoming a parent, I'm propelled by the desire to provide a better life for my family. The skilled trades offer the promise of a brighter future for my wife and our newborn. It's not just about me; it's about creating opportunities and a legacy for generations to come.
In conclusion, my commitment to the skilled trades, especially as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT), is about being part of a trade revolution that America needs. It's an opportunity to create a better future for my family, all while making a meaningful impact in an industry facing high demand and growth opportunities. This is a thrilling odyssey beyond FedEx, one filled with excitement, transformation, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
They say a mustard seed can move mountains, well that's what I'm going to do! When I get done with this career advancement certificate and heavy equipment operating I will have the skills necessary to get in a big tractor and move so much earth, I will be just like a mustard seed. That's exciting to me because the fact that something so little can change the lay of the land in such a way that the impact is noticed for centuries after it is gone. Hopefully I can have a similar impact on people in my life and others that I haven't even met yet. That is the kind of positivity I wish to show everyone in my life.
Two close family friends influenced me to pursue this career path. They were friends of my father's two super cool super mellow and affluent next door neighbors I have the pleasure to grow up with them as a kid. 4th of July parties, volleyball, and growing up with their kids was a memorable and happy time in my life I wish I could tell them that and how much it means to me. Both of these gentlemen moved dirt for a living whether it was by belly scraper, bulldozer, or dump truck. I remember them coming home after work still wearing their hard hats and their high visibility dirty t-shirts it's funny now how I looked up to them.
I'm passionate about this career path because I know it will allow me to live the kind of life where I don't have to worry financially. Also it will allow the chance to be around my kids while they grow up because there's a work-life balance that is important these days. Living comfortably and not having to worry about how I will be able to pay the next set of bills would be very relieving for me moving forward and it would be the first time in my life for that.
I am the first one in my family to ever go to college as my dad quit going to school after 8th grade to work on the family farm. Back in the day women stayed home and raised kids so that's what my mom did too so she didn't have the opportunity to have a career like women do these days. There's nothing wrong with that things are just different now.
Having a happy life and being financially independent through this kind of a career path would enable me to carry on similar things like barbecues and volleyball and other good times that I remember and that would make impact on a lot of people and that idea brings so much more joy and happiness that it would spread around the world just like a mustard seed does in a field.
My passion for pursuing a career in the Construction or Skilled Trades fields mostly comes from my time spent with my father, Randy Metheny, as a young adult. He was a carpenter by trade and although he could build a house from the foundation up, he mostly just did the framing and roofing. He was always swinging a hammer. Tragedy struck my family on Spet. 23, 2008 when my father and younger brother were both killed in our home. I was also shot in the leg and later had to amputate below my knee. My life has not been easy since I lost my brother and father, which was also the same day that my brother and I both worked our first and last full day with our father. My dad was always so proud of the things he built and I was always amazed at what he could do with a little bit of wood, some nails and a hammer. I would like to be able to make him proud by following in his footsteps while also forging my own path by becoming a professional welder.
Though my dad is where my passion for the Skill Trades ultimately stem, it has however, been my older brother, Michael Carlsen, that has been recently pushing me to go to school to become something more than what I have been these past 15 years. After getting shot and watching my brother and father die in front of me I fell into deep drug addiction due to both physical and mental anguish. In Jan 2022, I finally decided to amputate my left leg below the knee in order to rid myself of the physical anguish I had suffered from for so long. I've been clean since Nov 11, 2022. My older brother has been very supportive in my recovery and continues to help drive my focus into a better future for myself and my future family.
In order to make this world a better place, I plan to use this career to strengthen our infrastructure. Pipe welding or dive welding is where I would like to end up. I want to see the world and help those in need of natural resources that can only be provided by the people with the skill to mold some of the most solid materials together in order to make a literal life line to provide something every person in this world should be able to have safe access to; water, electricity, gas and shelter. Having the skill to weld is going to take me around the world one day in order to help the people that need it the most.
In conclusion, my time around my father as an adolescent, my older brother pushing me to become more than I am and my desire to travel the world and help those that are in need the most are the reasons why my passion for the Construction or Skilled Trades have led me to pursue a career in welding.
