Graduate Connections – Meet Arelis Romero

Arelis, 19, is from Thorsby, Alabama. Arelis completed the seven-month Professional Welder program at Tulsa Welding School in January 2024. 

Thanks for your time, Arelis. Did you go to Tulsa Welding School straight after high school?

Yes, pretty much. I moved to Tulsa about a month after I graduated.

That’s awesome. Where did the idea of going to welding school come from?

I took a two-year welding course in high school, my junior and senior years. I knew right then that welding was what I wanted to do. 

How did you know that welding was the path you wanted to take?

I guess it was the hands-on work, the getting dirty part. I don’t know if that sounds weird, but just getting my hands dirty. I don’t know how to explain it, I’m just more into working with my hands than sitting down at a desk. I like some action in my life, I like to be physical.

Does anyone in your family weld, or was just the high school course that sparked your interest?

It was only high school really. I didn’t think anyone in my family was a welder, but I asked around and found out that one of my uncles actually owns his own welding business. I do remember hearing about it a while back, but I guess I forgot since I’ve never actually met my uncle.

How did you find moving out of state at 18?

It was hard. I was really sad leaving my family, especially my mom. She actually tried to convince me not to go, but I told her, “I’m going to do it.” I was really sad, but I convinced my brother to move to Tulsa with me so I wouldn’t be alone, and so my mom wouldn’t worry as much! It was hard for us both at first.

It’s brave to do that at 18. What did you enjoy most about your time at TWS? 

I’d say it was the teachers and the people there. Some of them were really cool and I got along with almost everyone. I also enjoyed the fact that I could help other students because of my experience from two years’ welding in high school. I was able to give them tips or help if they asked. That helped me a lot too.

So, did having that prior welding experience help you? 

It did, yeah, a lot. It actually helped me skip the first phase. I joined a class at the start of phase two.

Was the experience of welding in high school different to Tulsa Welding School? 

It was. I learned way more in Tulsa. I learned some things that I didn’t know were things you needed to know about while welding! Don’t get me wrong, the two years in high school helped me be a little further ahead than most students. (A shout-out to my high school welding instructor, Daniel Gilland!) I thought I knew enough in high school, but I learned way more at Tulsa. I knew some people that got welding jobs right after high school, good paying ones too. They didn’t even further their welding education. But I went to Tulsa Welding School, and it’s actually helped me a lot with where I’m at now in my career.

Did you have difficult days though, even with your experience? 

It was not easy for me. There were times when I wanted to go home and cry. I was so stressed out, I felt like I was behind. It was hard, but I got through it. I just stayed positive the whole time. I’d sit down and just try and think about what I was doing; sometimes I’d just walk away, go ask a teacher or something.

Did you ask a lot of questions?

I did. I asked a lot; I mean a lot! It’s crazy. I don’t know. It made me feel behind or something. I was just asking so many questions!

It’s not crazy. There are always other people who want the answers but are not brave enough to ask!

That’s true!

So, where are you working?

Right now, I have a job doing MIG, Flux, and some TIG welding at Avery Barron Industries, a metal shop here in Tulsa, so I’ve been gaining some experience there. I started during my last phase at welding school, so it’s been about three months now. I just gave my notice actually. I finish next week, then I’m going home to Alabama for a couple of weeks before I start my new job on April 15. I want to see my mom before my life gets serious and I have no time for anything.

Sounds cool, who’s that new job with?

It’s with BWX Technologies in Mount Vernon, Indiana. I’m going to work in the Nuclear Operations Group welding nuclear submarines, repairing and building them I believe. 

Awesome! Tell us how you got the new job. 

Another student went there for an interview and told me about it. They got me very interested in the job, so I put in an application, and started practicing for the weld test at school. BWX flew me to Indiana for the weld test. It’ll be TIG and Stick welding, which are the welding processes I’m best at actually. I spent a lot of time at school brushing up and practicing, even after I finished class. Danielle in Career Services was helpful. She would give me the brush-up forms for me to go in to school to practice for the job. I know at one point she got annoyed because I was going every single day after I graduated! At one point she said, “Yeah, that’s enough with the forms! You can just come in and weld!” I’m still going in now to brush up while I have the chance before I leave Tulsa for home next week.

The practice clearly paid off! That’s pretty exciting work. Are you pumped?

I’m pretty thrilled. But I’m kind of scared too because it’s a big step for me. I’m going to Indiana alone. I’ll be going onto their own training program for three months. I have to learn all their principles and basics. They tell me it takes about four years to learn everything! 

That’s a pretty cool job. Strong background and security checks I imagine?

It took five days for mine to clear. I don’t know how long it usually should take for a normal one. Mine should have been easy and fast!

Nothing murky in your past! Are you happy with the money you’ll be making?

Yes, I am. Like I said, it’s a big step for me. I used to work fast food, warehouse, and retail jobs where I was getting paid like $12/hour or a little more. This is a really, really big step for me.

You’re just starting out but what’s your career plan from here?

I am taking it step by step, but I do want to travel weld eventually. I don’t know how long I’ll be with BWXT; certainly a few years until I have enough experience and knowledge to go out on my own. I’d like to be self-employed and have my own business one day. That’s one of my dreams.

What do you enjoy most about your new trade?

It makes me feel good about myself knowing that I’m going to have a future, knowing that I will have the money to help my family out. That I’ll be the one that they can depend on. I just want to focus on my career and saving some money, building a home. Then we’ll see what happens a few years down the line.

Did you make some connections at school? Friends that you’ll stay in touch with. 

I made some connections, yes, but mainly with the teachers. They gave me so many helpful tip and so much motivation. I’ve always got them to ask if I need any help in the future. Honestly, I wasn’t that social at school. I didn’t really speak to anybody in my class outside of helping them. I just kept my head and my hood down most of the time. I talked to the teachers, and some students would come and ask me for help when they saw what I was doing, but I was most friendly with the teachers. My focus was on school, on my welding, not making friends. When I wasn’t welding, I’d be social with anyone, but I was at school to weld.

What advice do you have for someone to be successful at Tulsa Welding School? 

I would say don’t give up. It’s going to be hard, but you’ll get through it if you put the work in and stay positive. Positivity is always the key.

If you’re a TWS graduate and would like to share your success and be an inspiration to others, please email [email protected] to be considered for a Graduate Connection interview. Please include details such as your graduation date (month/year), program, and campus name (Tulsa/Jacksonville/Houston/Dallas).