Graduate Connections – Meet Thor Emerick

Thor, 32, from Michigan City, Indiana, completed the seven-month Refrigeration Technologies program at Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville in September 2024. 

Thanks for your time, Thor. What did you do before enrolling at Tulsa Welding School? 

Honestly, I was battling addiction and living a criminal lifestyle. I got arrested, got out of jail, messed up, overdosed twice, and then I lived in a sober-living ministry for three years. For the first six months at the ministry, I worked for them doing odds jobs at construction sites. The director of the ministry knew somebody who had their own business building and remodeling homes, so we’d go in and clean out the houses, do all the manual labor. Then after the six months, I worked for a popcorn factory. I was a machine operator, a forklift operator, I did a little bit of everything there. When my three-year term at the ministry was ending, I decided I needed a change of scene and a new crowd, so I moved to Jacksonville two years ago. I had to get away from the chaotic life I was living. I’m actually five years clean now.

Congratulations on your sobriety. That’s the most important thing. Why Jacksonville?? 

My dad was here for a year before I moved down. I was almost at my term with the ministry, so instead of being homeless, my dad offered me a place to live. We said we’d work it out from there.

Thanks, Dad! So, how did you land at Tulsa Welding School?

The inspiration behind going to school was also my dad; he sat me down one day and said, “Dude, you’re past 30, you’ve got to figure something out for yourself. I can’t do anything for you.” My dad is 64 years old, and pretty much six months after I moved down here, he lost his job. So, we had to get something going. I was driving forklifts at a pallet recycling plant, but I decided that I needed an education behind me to help me get into a proper career. I didn’t want to keep struggling through life.

Why did you choose the Refrigeration Technologies program? 

It sounded good to me because it seemed like it would be easy work. Go in, troubleshoot, hook up some wires, do this, do that, and go on to the next job. I started off doing RT, but after a while I was thinking of taking my education further and doing the extra three electrical classes to complete the Electro-Mechanical Technologies program. The only reason I didn’t take those extra classes is because I got offered a job doing commercial wiring before I graduated. They said they’d send me to school to get my Journeyman’s once I got through my probationary period. So, I completed the RT program as planned: I actually started the job a couple of days before I finished class.

What did you enjoy most about your time at TWS? 

Just the overall experience. I enjoyed learning the basics as everybody else was learning. I enjoyed meeting new people, getting to know the teachers and other people who help guide you through your new career as an HVAC technician. It was pretty much the connections, and just how TWS is. Before I enrolled, my enrolment advisor told me how the school is like a brotherhood. How if you needed to go sit in a class one night to refresh yourself after you leave, you can go and sit in a class. Once a graduate, always a graduate – just keeping that connection is good. 

Did you feel that brotherhood, and did you make some friends you’ll stay in touch with?

Oh yes. I actually have a couple of buddies that I’m supposed to go paintballing with this weekend! I gave  everybody my number if they ever needed anything, but only a couple of people have taken me up on that offer so far.

Did you work while at school? 

Yes, I was a forklift operator for a pallet recycling plant. I worked all day and then went to school at night. 

So, you graduated a month ago…tell us more about the job you mentioned?

I work for Summit Electrical here in Jacksonville, a commercial and industrial electrical contractor. As of right now, I’m just an electrician helper. 

How did you get the job?

My old plant manager at the recycling plant connected me. Summit Electrical does a lot of work for the plant, so he asked, “Hey, you’re going to school for electrical. You want me to hook you up with them?” I was like, “Yes, sir!” 

Why did you choose an electrical job, rather than an HVAC or refrigeration job?

The opportunity was kind of presented to me through my manager, and the starting pay was a little bit better than I’d seen for HVAC, so I decided to move towards the higher pay. With my schedule now, I’m off by 3.30pm during the week, so I can always do a little HVAC technician maintenance work in the afternoons or over the weekends. So, I’m using HVAC more as a side job at the moment.

Are you enjoying the job, and are you happy with where you’ve started out financially?

I am enjoying it. I’m learning more and more each day, and as time goes on, I’ll always learn more. The starting pay is great. The guy I interviewed with told me I’m not going to get paid as well anywhere else because they go off a union scale. So, union scale versus Joe Schmo who just wants to give you the minimum they can get away with is no comparison. I’m six weeks into my three-month probation period, and I’ll get a pay rise when I complete that. Even better are the perks that come with it. I get insurance, they will pay for schooling; they give out Christmas bonuses every year and have a big old Christmas party!

What’s your career plan from here, Thor?

Well, my plan is to learn as much as I can and to get my Journeyman’s license in a few years. Once I get my Journeyman’s license, then I can go pretty much anywhere across the world with it.

I’m guessing you work at different job sites.

The first couple of days I worked at two different job sites, and then they put me somewhere that’s more sustainable because they needed the work done. I’ve been here about a month and we’re probably going to be out of here in the next two weeks, and then on to another job site.

Is it all local work, or is there travel?

For the most part, for me right now it’s all local, but eventually there will be travel. They have a crew out in West Salem, Wisconsin, right now, as well as a couple of other places up north and down south, close to Miami. They pretty much go everywhere. I’d rather be on a road crew because I’m not the type of person that likes to just stay in one place. I’ve been in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, this place and that place.

What do you enjoy most about this new trade?

Really just the learning and getting new experiences. I’ve always liked electrical, so now that I’m doing commercial and industrial, I’m getting a broader understanding of the electrical field versus just doing residential work. 

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

The best piece of advice I could give is simply this: if you’re going to be successful, nobody else is going to do it but you!  

Five years clean, money in your pocket, and a career you enjoy. Sounds like life is pretty good.

Yes sir, it is!

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).