The Welders at Pickens Tech take us into their zone
Nick, Mandi, Ethan, Justin, Kaley, David K., Joseph, James, Graham, Hunter, Allen, Jarod, Matt, J Oliver, Mason, Josh, Tyler, Brandon, Gregory, & David R. | CONTRIBUTORS
For well over a decade The Welding vocational training program at Pickens Technical College offers hands-on training in the latest Welding techniques. In this A Story exclusive, we get to hear the fire yielding student voices from this increasingly rare space in Aurora, Colorado.
When the mask comes down
it’s as if I was alone in silence.
I am in my comfort zone.
My mask puts me into my own reality.
When you see me, I am silent and stern.
I am determined and focused.
I am solitary but rely on the shoulders of a select few.
What you don’t see is an energy in its purist form,
something rare and powerful like an untamed animal
but used for simple things because some are afraid of the pure power.
I do this for my life as well as my girls’.
Economy is failing alongside our schooling
and I’m giving her the opportunity to start fresh and do it right.
When the mask comes down it’s like its only me
It’s like what people see me as is just a portion of me
It’s like no one actually sees me and what made me who I am.
If the boots could speak, they’d say we don’t get softer or lighter to wear. We break in as you do.
Failure is just the building blocks for a victory. Each fail makes the foundation for victory stronger and harder to fall down.
Failure is just a feeling. If we fail, we just have to think positive. Failure is just another stepping-stone in life to success.
Fire is the Destroyer and Creator without it our world would cease to exist.
Failure is just a rite of passage for success. If one succeeds in all endeavors, then there is nothing that one will ever learn from them, no room for improvement. Constant success is constant stagnation.
When the mask comes down it’s like the tree growing in the spring. No rain, no wind, no snow, just a tree strong and big living its best life.
When the mask comes down it’s like everything is dulled.
Even the arc, it’s too sharp for us by ourselves.
But the arc is so sharp it cuts through the dull and leaves us with a tangible something to work with, something we can control.
When you see me, I want you to see a person that loves his family, friends and significant others. I want you to see a man of faith, who is not afraid to share it with others. I want you to see a hardworking, motivated S.O.B. that never stops.
What you don’t see is anxiety, loss of control, and compassion for my craft.
I do this for those I loved and lost.
I do this for fallen heroes and family members.
I do this for myself to prove I’m a warrior and nothing will get in my way.
If the sparks could speak they would with the light of an arc.
They would have a party any time they hear a belt sander or grinder turn on.
As they fly away with energy of a charging elephant.
Only to meet again at the end of the day by the mercy or the thunderous boom.
Failure is just the way you learn.
Failure is just going to happen.
We all fail at one point.
Failure is just like riding a horse.
You fall off and you got to get back up and do it again.
Fire is as powerful as one’s mind can be because sometimes
the mind will seize everything or die out due to lack of needs.
Failure is just something people see when things didn’t go as planned.
But failure is a life lesson that every animal on earth will go through in their life time.
When the mask comes down it’s like nothin’ in the world.
I get in my zone and no one’s there.
I strike the arc and it begins working with the torch and filler to accomplish the goal.
Moving side by side melting the metals together
and when I raise the hood you see your job well done.
