“EDUCATION IS NOT THE FILLING OF A PAIL, BUT THE LIGHTING OF A FIRE.”
– WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS
I say would add that once the fire is lit... gathering their own fuel is key to self sufficiency. Making and publishing student blogs is part of the steps towards connecting with supportive people.
One person I have in mind who has been an inspiration to young girls learning to weld is Jessi Combs.
Quick story on how Jessi helped my student be a better welder. When I introduced my student Xitlaly to welding, I gave her the gloves all the guys in the class use. These did not fit her. The fingers drooped over, which looked like clown clothes. She could not feel the trigger on the MIG torch. As you may know, welding comfort and position is linked to accuracy and safety. I stopped right there to think... there must be a better way.
I knew that there were popular female welders... So maybe they could offer me a solution. I looked up Jessi Combs. Turns out Jessi has a line of welding gloves specific to women's hand sizes. This was a no brainer. I bought 3 sizes online. When they arrived I brought them in to school for Xitlaly to try. She found a perfect match and got straight into laying her first beads. Check out this photo from her first day!!!
I don't know if this is the result of my teaching or the talent of my student... in this case I think its the student. Thank you Jessi Combs for enabling young girls to weld. And thank you to my student Xitlaly for trying a new tool in the workshop. Read and see more of Xitaly's welding on her blog post. http://exqueda.blogspot.com/2015/04/welding.html
With the help of yourself Mr.G and the talent of Laly, that's what made this case successful, keep it up! Laly's work is awesome!
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