My name is James Ngaluola. I am a 31-year-old Tongan-American, and throughout my life, I have never encountered a professional welder who shares my ethnic background. My people are great workers in construction and electrical trades, but there are no welders. Our community is pretty small, but I feel like I can start the wave of new welders in our community. Back in Oakland, CA, our church had a carport that everyone would gather under to have feasts and dances. One day, when someone was hanging up some decorations, a bar came loose, and it was because of a failed weld. We had to hire a welder to help us, but we're so used to fixing everything ourselves that it made me think about becoming a welder. I've always been a creative person, and when I finally looked into welding as a trade, I noticed how creative it allows you to be. One reason I enjoy welding is that I think it's pretty cool to see how many different ways people find to fix the same problem. Not only am I creative, but I also enjoy working with my hands, so I finally decided to sign up for trade school with the help of my family. So far, I have been going to school for 4 months now, and I'm on my third course, about to be on my fourth course. I have a 4.0 GPA, I have signed up to become a student ambassador, and I've also been invited to be a part of the National Technical Honor Society. I really enjoy going to school to become a welder. I feel like I found my community, and it's also nice being around people who share a common goal. Becoming a welding student has opened my eyes to the possibilities that will open up to me after I graduate from trade school. I could pursue structural welding, where I can help build structures like schools and hospitals, as well as items like railings and fences. I could go into the pipeline and help bring energy, water, and natural gas to homes all over the country. While reading our textbooks in the classroom, I found out that after natural disasters, tradesmen and tradeswomen are considered first responders, so they can help the public get back to functioning properly. That is something I never thought about, but once I read about it, it made so much sense. Initially, I wanted to become a welder because I could potentially be the first Tongan in my community and help my people by being the guy they call when they need a welder. Now, just a few months into school, I realize I can help a lot more people than just the ones in my community, and I can be a part of a trade that helps transform this country.

Trade jobs are extremely important to modern society because we as tradesmen and tradeswomen are the ones that build up the world and keep the world running. I am currently taking classes on combination welding. I'm just about to start my third course and it's opened my eyes so much. It showed me how important we are to helping society grow, how to keep communities thriving and build for our futures. Pipe welders provide cities and states with energy, water and natural gasses. Those three things along are vital things to keep a community thriving. Structural welders build those communities, they construct the buildings we need to keep society flowing the right way like hospitals, schools and prisons. Nothing lasts forever, so as long as you can weld, you'll be able to maintain and keep up with these structures so that they stay stronger for longer. HVAC keeps us cool and comfortable during the hotter seasons, I live in Arizona and it's literally illegal to live out here without a running A/C unit. Electricians keep the lights on, they provide power to our homes and other structures. Truck drivers provide our states and cities with the items we need to keep our communities thriving. I feel like truck drivers are the most overlooked trade workers. One thing I learned is that during natural disasters, trade workers become first responders. For example, if there is a tornado in town and it takes out a school, trade workers should respond as soon as possible. Construction workers and welders will help to repair or rebuild the structure. Electricians and plumbers will supply the school with electricity and running water. HVAC will provide cool air and truck drivers would provide them with all sorts of supplies. Anybody working a trade job should consider themselves the backbone of society. I'm only a few months in to my welding program so I don't consider myself to be a welder yet. I can't wait to be a part of that community though. It will make me proud to be a part of something bigger and be a big contributor to society. I'll be a part of a small percentage of people that help the world go round. Tradeswomen and tradesmen turn a vision into reality and create better futures for us all. Building the economy, means creating jobs which goes full circle because when jobs are created, the economy grows. Nobody moves to a place where there are no jobs and the structures aren't fit to live in. People move to areas that are growing and thriving. Working trades will make you some good money as well. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, you'll be able to provide your family with a great life. Working trade jobs pay so well because the skills you need to learn take some time to master. Also, those jobs could be very dangerous, usually the most dangerous jobs pay extremely well. It is rewarding to be a skilled trade workers, not only because of the pay but because you are a huge part of society.