Graduate Connections – Meet Cole Greene

Cole, 20, from Dover, Delaware, completed the Professional Welder program at Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville in April 2023. 

Thanks for your time, Cole. Did you enroll at Tulsa Welding School straight out of high school? 

I graduated high school in June, stayed at home for the summer, and then moved down to Jacksonville to start school in September 2022.

Where did the idea of going to welding school come from? 

So, I had an HVAC class in my high school and my teacher, Mr. Christman, eventually transitioned it into a metal fabrication class. He talked to me personally, one-on-one, about welding and how you can make a career out of it. I was very interested. Then we did some one-on-one welding together at the end of my junior year, and he basically showed me all the basics of it. I was 17 and I was hooked right away.

How was moving out of state at 18? Delaware to Florida is a long way from home. 

I looked at a few local welding schools close by and nothing really enticed me. I’ve always wanted to live in Florida and the opportunity to go to school down there appealed to me. I came to terms with myself that I’m either going to college or trade school, and that I probably wasn’t going to be close to my family anymore. So, the moving away part wasn’t really too hard because I had already prepared myself for it. 

Did you have anyone down in Florida that you knew when you moved?

I was on my own, but the school does offer EDUrent, so I had three roommates once I got down there. That definitely helped a lot; having them around kept me busy, not worrying about missing family. I did morning class and worked in the evenings at a sporting goods store to be able to afford living down there.

What did you enjoy most about your time at TWS? 

I met a lot of new people, that was big for me. Just hearing new stories, learning from the instructors, and seeing all the different techniques they have to go about their welding. It was fascinating to see how everybody can do the same thing, but at the same time, it’s all so different. It was very cool.

How was the program? Did you find it easy? Frustrating? Ever want to go home? 

I never had days where I wanted to come home. I was always eager to learn, but there were definitely a few frustrating days. Whether it was just a bad day and I felt like I couldn’t get it, or just nothing was going right for me. But I mean, a simple talk with an instructor or a friend and it’s all good. One bad day doesn’t mean anything. There were ups and downs, but there were a lot more ups than downs. 

Is that how you overcame those frustrating moments? Chatting with the instructor…

Yeah. I mean, in the beginning I tried to just do it and not ask questions and all that, but I quickly learned that wasn’t the best way to do it. So over time, I eventually took a deep breath, stepped back, asked the instructor, “Hey, do you mind showing me this?” They showed me, told me their tips, and then I’d go through my day of working on it. I learned that you’ve got to be prepared to put your hand up and put yourself out there in order to move forward.

Did you get involved with the school like using Career Services?

I reached out to Career Services trying to figure out when job opportunities were coming in, when companies were coming to the school to give out weld tests. I was always trying to jump on those, and really just take as many tests as I could, whether I got offered a job or not. I just wanted to have the experience of taking tests. I figured that way, when the time came to take an important test for a job I wanted, I’d already be used to it. I probably annoyed Career Services with how much I was speaking with them, but at the end of the day, I had a job lined up before I graduated school, so I was happy. I also love how we are able to come back in to school at a later date, after you graduate, to brush up and stay fresh. 

Okay, tell us about that job you got before graduating. Where are you working?

I’m in Huntsville, Alabama, working for Blue Origin, the space exploration company. I do have some NDAs that I signed, but basically, we’re an engine factory in Huntsville, so we produce the rocket engines. I weld parts that get put together to form the engine, and I weld on engine nozzles and their fuel lines.

That’s awesome! How did you get the job? Did Career Services help you?

Career Services told me Blue Origin was coming in, and I had to fill out a bunch of applications to do a weld test. This was Blue Origin’s first time ever coming to Tulsa Welding School, so the school wanted us to leave a very good impression! I was there from 7:00am to 5:00pm the day of the test, just doing weld tests. After, I didn’t hear anything for about two months and then I got the call. They offered me a position and I’ve been working for them since May 2023, a little over a year now. I’m actually in the process of trying to get transferred back to Florida, from Alabama. 

That’s pretty cool. Did you go to welding school with the goal in mind to work in aerospace?

Initially, no. I was pretty open-minded about what type of welding field I was going to get into. About halfway through my time at school, I spoke with one of the instructors, Joe Rush, and he talked about his time in welding and aerospace. I was just fascinated by it and thought, yeah, that’s what I want to do. So, when I heard that Blue Origin was coming to give out job tests, I was so happy.

You don’t need to give us details, but are you happy with the money you’re making?

Oh yeah. I’m very happy about how much I’m making. I honestly didn’t expect to be making what I’m making now out of school, and I’m excited for what the future holds.

Awesome. You’ve got the world at your feet at 20. Are your folks proud of you?

Yeah, every time I go home, they always remind me how proud they are of me. 

Have you been there long enough that something you’ve worked on has been launched into space? 

Yeah, I actually have. We’re debuting a new space vehicle later in the year, and I’m really looking forward to that because a lot of the work I’ve done should be implemented on that spacecraft, so that’ll be super exciting. I’ve watched our flights go up and I’m amazed every time how everything works together so well. I don’t know how the engineers do it, but they do a great job! 

What’s your career plan from here, Cole?

I think I’d really like to stay with Blue Origin. I love the company and how they run everything. I’d like to get to the Cape Canaveral, Florida, facility and stay there for a while. Honestly, their work/life balance is very good, so good that I think I’d be able to start up a little mobile welding business of my own in my off time. That’s what I really want to do in the future, and do that almost as a little side gig, or even a hobby.  

You said that in the process of trying to get a transfer. What’s the timeline?

I have it approved by my manager here in Huntsville, and the manager in Florida. I’ve got a few interviews coming up, so hopefully it’ll happen within the next few months.

What do you enjoy most about this new trade?

Honestly, just being in my own mental state. When the hood goes down, I can be myself. I’m doing my own thing. Yes, I’m working with people, but I’m mainly doing my own work by myself. It doesn’t make me feel like I’m lesser than anybody, but it also doesn’t make me feel like I’m more than anybody. I feel I fit in when I’m welding. I’m comfortable even when I’m uncomfortable. Just dropping the hood and striking an arc…there’s something about it, and it’s awesome to see every time.

Did you make some connections at school, people you’ll stay in touch with? 

There are a few guys I still text here and there. I’m actually living with one of the guys I lived with in Jacksonville. We’re both working at Blue Origin together, so that’s been my main source of contact. I think three of us got hired at the Alabama location, and two guys went down to the Florida location. 

That’s awesome! What advice do you have for someone to be successful at Tulsa Welding School? 

Definitely be open-minded, listen to the instructors, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and stay focused on what your goal is for the future. If you have a goal in mind, and you really want to put the work in towards it, you can definitely get there, especially with the help of the instructors and everybody else at the school.

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).