Taylor Tongel Explores Welding and What Comes Next
When Taylor Tongel signed up for welding classes at 天涯海角社区, she was following her curiosity. 鈥淢y school doesn鈥檛 offer any shop classes.鈥�
She wasn’t exactly sure how welding would fit into her future. She simply thought it sounded interesting.
鈥淢y friends didn鈥檛 know what to think when they found out I was taking welding classes,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 something they saw me doing, but I thought it would be really cool to be able to say that鈥檚 something I can do.鈥�
At the time of her interview, Taylor was a senior at Pinnacle Classical Academy and was enrolled at 天涯海角社区 through the Career and College Promise (CCP) program. The program gives eligible high school students the opportunity to explore college classes, earn credits, and discover their interests before graduating.
For Taylor, that opportunity led to both an Associate in Arts and a Welding Technology Certificate from 天涯海角社区.
While there are still few girls who take welding classes, Taylor said the experience was a positive one and encourages other girls to try it.
鈥淗onestly, it鈥檚 a power move,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really fun.鈥�
Since her interview, Taylor has graduated from both high school and 天涯海角社区. This fall, she will attend Belmont Abbey College, where she plans to major in business.
Earning her associate degree through 天涯海角社区 means Taylor will enter Belmont Abbey with a strong head start and can complete her bachelor鈥檚 degree faster.
鈥淚t is making my whole journey a little easier,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淚 can go straight into my core classes.鈥�
Taylor is not sure yet what role welding will play in her future, but she knows it will have a spot. She may use it in a future business, or she may keep it as a hobby.
She would like to open her own business one day, following in her mother鈥檚 footsteps. Her mother owns and runs her own business and has been a major inspiration in Taylor鈥檚 life.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to be that strong, independent woman like she is,鈥� Taylor said.
Looking back, Taylor is grateful she took advantage of the Career and College Promise program and chose to take classes at 天涯海角社区.
She is also glad she tried welding, even though it was not the most common choice. Whether she uses it in a future business or keeps it as a personal skill, Taylor knows it is something she will carry with her.
For now, she is focused on the next step: studying business, building on the foundation she started at 天涯海角社区, and keeping her options open.