I love to teach  girls and women. I remember when females welding was an unexpected and a bit radical.  Of course during World War Two women were put to work welding, riveting and fabricating machines and heavy equipment for the war effort. After the war women in large part returned home to be wives, mothers, nurses or secretaries.

After College in 1986 with a degree in Psychology, I worked at a bank as a teller on track to work in Human Resources. This was a default job choice, I found this job to be stifling. After 3 miserable years at the bank I quit to become something radically different. I joined Local 46 to become an apprentice Industrial Commercial Electrician. After 4 years on the job I “turned out” and became a Journeyman Electrician. There were many men who did not think women should be electricians and showed it. There were some really great guys who taught me a lot and looked out for me and respected me and my work ethic.

I do remember one time going to a party with a friend and having good conversation with a man. When we got to the “so what do you do for a living?” part I told him I was an electrician. With a look of disbelief on his face he responded like a bratty little brother saying “prove it!” Another time a guy I was telling a guy what my career was, he just stopped talking, turned and walked away.

So, I still get a thrill being a woman and firing up the welding torch. I love teaching a woman who has not had experience working with tools or equipment. It lights me up when she figures out that.. She Can Do It!