After my time at SAIC, I dove head first into the world of welding. Getting certified through Chicago Women in Trades to weld 10 and 18 gauge steel. Shortly after the program I was hired to weld chassises and couplers for semi trucks in Southern Wisconsin. Foot in the door, I began learning to weld with flux core and how to operate the robotic welders. The work itself was repetitive to the point of exhaustion, I remember waking up to my hand curling up and numb. At the end of my contracted year I decided to return to Chicago with a set intention of pursuing my metalworking dream in a more artisanal and creative direction.