When I was younger I wanted to join the Air Force and become a pilot. I stuck with that plan until I started welding in high school. I quickly discovered that I was very good at it and had a lot of success in a short amount of time. I became hooked, spending countless hours in the shop. I have since gone to college and earned my welding degree and machining certificate. After my first year of college I decided that I would have to endure another year and get my degree in mechanics. I knew I love building things and being able to use my head and I had to create something. Both my welding and machining can be used to create very complex parts that require a lot of thought and that's why I chose to open a workshop. For the last two summers I have been working in the welding industry in a coal mine as a shop welder maker with a small amount of machining involved. This was very monotonous and repetitive work. I knew from day to day what I would do at work. At this job I also worked on a 28-day rotation schedule, which in turn meant I only worked half the month alternating between day shifts, days off, nights, and scheduled days off. I realized that this can have a negative impact on a person's body and family life, “but most shop-floor type jobs are not rotating shifts” (Woehl). I'm currently making a lot of money and am on track to make almost $61,000 a year, technically only working half the month. Taking a pay cut isn't a huge concern for me because I know, after speaking with numerous experienced workers, that I will go from working half the month to a typical 40-hour work week. My main concern is my health... middle of the paper... and giving an idea of ​​working hours. That said it shows that there is still a demand for both types of work. With the above information put into serious consideration on my part, I feel that I am on the right path to a successful career at this point in my life. With my early graduation this spring, I feel that both of my degrees will help me succeed in one or both of my chosen fields and have a quality job right after college. “I should continue my education, whether on the job or with seminars and classes, which will help me advance in any career” (Woehl). No one knows exactly what they would like to do in twenty years, but they can tell you exactly what they would like to do and this relationship helped me decide that I would still like to pursue a career as a welder/machinist with a focus in the shop atmosphere.