Growing up I was mainly surrounded by men. All the men in my life worked in some sort of trade job and I always knew it was a possible career option. It wasn't until high school that I really knew the direction I was going in. I always had hobbies in the arts and science but nothing sparked a passion in me. I started narrowing down my career choices and I found myself not liking any of the options I was being given. As a teenage girl, I had everyone telling me how I should act, who I should like and what I should do with my life. These ideas were being pushed into my life and I was being pressured into things I didn't want. I knew traditional college wasn't for me and I knew I wanted to have a job that people needed. I started looking into trades that seemed interesting and welding stood out. The resources in my life were limited but with the help of my support system, I was able to get a welding/sheet metal fabrication internship. I welded for the first time last winter and it changed my life. I was in a shop working with people and I was getting hands-on experience and I fell in love. I got to be in that environment for the first time, I got to use tools/equipment I hadn't had previous access to and I was working on projects for people in my town. I found something I enjoyed that also challenged me. I was able to problem solve and use my brain in a new way while doing that internship and despite hearing the discouraging words of people in my life not believing in me it drove me further and kept the flame alive and it helped me realize this is what I want to do with my life and what I want to do after high school. I believe welding is a fun, complex, and important job. Without welding, infrastructure would fail. Everything around us relies on welding and people don't even realize it. Most of the buildings we learn, live, and work in all needed to be welded at some point. The transportation we all use cannot be made without welders. people would not be able to live comfortably without welding. Welding is what keeps production going as well as provides jobs for millions of people worldwide. The world we live in and society as we know it depends on welding.