From School Dropout to Instructor: My Welding Journey
At 14, I dropped out of school. I struggled to keep up with the coursework, and with my brother’s health issues consuming our family’s focus, homeschool wasn’t much of an option either.
When my brother needed a heart transplant, everything changed. During one hospital visit, I was talking to the doctor about my struggle to find a career when she asked me, “Have you ever thought about being a welder?” She mentioned how welders can make great money without a college degree – that stuck with me.
But first, I needed my high school diploma. I failed my first GED attempt at 18. Eventually, I enrolled at Tom P. Haney Technical College’s adult education program, where instructors believed in me before I believed in myself.
That experience taught me something crucial: what you put into life is what you get out of it.
Welding school opened a new world. After completing both basic and advanced programs, I passed my first X-ray welding test and began traveling for work. I’ve worked everywhere from nuclear plants to industrial sites, earning anywhere from $850 to $4,500 a week with per diems.
Now at 29, I teach welding at Haney. I love what I do – especially showing students that you don’t need four years of college to make a great living. One of our 18-year-old graduates made $135,000 in his first year.
Career and Technical Education isn’t just about fast training – it’s about real opportunities. In just a year or two, you can build a future in a high-demand field while your peers rack up college debt.
If traditional school isn’t working for you, don’t count yourself out. Whether you’re 14 or 40, there’s a way forward. Visit GetThereFL.com – you might just find your version of welding: not just a job, but a better life.
Zacch Long is a welding instructor at Tom P. Haney Technical College in Panama City, Florida. He lives in Graceville with his wife and two children.
