I am at a career crossroads currently and need some perspective.For starters, I have received a SMAW flat cert after 4 years of welding school (which includes proficiency in Mig, tig, all that shit. For mig I can lay good welds but its not my favorite process, Stick is my bread and butter, personally.) and I currently work in a small mom and pop welding shop, and I am due to take full control of the fab shop after 4 years, and doing some welding side work to pass the time (I live in the southwest so there are plenty of farms to perform emergency repairs and installations for urban areas.) I can also post pictures of the welds and my work if requested.The problem is, my Mentor and friends have been telling me to study mechanical engineering at my local community college, (The major employers in my area are hiring graduates immediately) and the idea has been weighing on me.At the same time, I feel like I am finally getting a solid footing in my trade, and one of my friends expressed concern about burnout and overworking myself. Mom has offered to help with tuition so I am not worried about debt. How should I go about this?
>>34707444Why not then? Engineers are the most successful small businesses owners, it is a physical philosophy that learns you how to think. Being a great welder really is not worth a shit if you cannot branch out to related things. Computer aided drafting, at least.
>>34707444If you’re the type of guy who has the mental processing power for calculus, the engineering route is exactly the one to go. If you trust your mentor in other situations, I wouldn’t imagine he’s steering you wrong here. Further, I’m not sure where you are but community college engineering is not nearly as difficult or demanding as starting a 4 year engineering degree from scratch where I am. If your community college is the one dumping funds into hiring programs and other bullshit, they’re probably right that you should be involved in it, get the education, and use that position of competence to meet more people in the industry because they might be useful contacts later.
