Green Horn with Gas
Due to my circumstances, this week my occupation has taken a
turn and will now be focused on welding. Having been around welding before, but
never knowing the nitty gritty, I decided to jump into this occupation because
I have the resources to make it possible. Welding can certainly be an art, but
it is an art once you gain the experience. This is one occupation that takes
constant practice, and an occupation I could certainly see a state of flow
being reached. My resources are doing more structural welding from a program or
plan, but I look forward to delving into a few projects of my own, or side
projects they may need help with.
This week I learned about the different types of welding, and the welder settings on a TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welder. I have a feeling it will take me some time to dial in the settings for myself and weld properly, but I look forward to that rather frustrating process. Maybe I shouldn’t put negative connotation on it, and it might be a surprisingly positive experience. After all, what we put into our efforts and occupations we typically get back. I was also introduced to the latest advancements in welding, and I was thoroughly impressed. I hope to be able to get the opportunity to weld with that welder at some point.
The concept of the transactional nature of occupation and
the self I feel is one that correlates with the concept of flow. This concept
in relation to my new occupation(s) can apply to the occupation of welding, but
personally it would be hard for me to say learning to mechanic has a
transactional nature in the sense of being one with the occupation itself. I see
it as a transaction between my physical abilities and the applied forces from
the vehicle being worked on, whereas with welding the transactional nature is
very fluent.
The way in which I used my self-knowledge and self-awareness
when choosing this occupation was through the knowledge and awareness of my situation.
I knew my resources for learning to mechanic were not as readily available
which made me reflect upon the resources I did have available. I chose to make
the leap to learn how to weld because of the faith I have in myself not only to
complete the act of welding, but to create through welding. My perception of
the occupation and my capabilities drove me to pursue welding.
When I examine my chosen occupation from different perspectives,
I harness a new sense of self-esteem. Reflecting on my occupation as a servant,
I see its contribution to my success in this course. It serves a purpose for
higher goals. It serves as a motivator to learn, do, and become. Through the recruiting
perspective, it reflects the emotional process of moving on and choosing a different
occupation, and pulls in the aspects of attention to detail and my ability to
think differently. Overall, it mirrors my dedication, independence, physical capabilities,
and interests. I see within myself the determination it takes to do something most
women chose not to do. I see within myself the independence that was instilled within
me as a young child and how much I value that today.
Hi Brandy! Both of your chosen occupations are very interesting to me, and something I have always been inclined to learn how to do. However, from my perspective they are also fairly ambitious and involved due to the tools and detailed knowledge required. It reminds me of our self perspective and self knowledge, I often say I'm not mechanically inclined, even though I would like to be. It's awesome that you are taking the leap in learning how to do them! Would you say that part of your self knowledge is that you often choose more "masculine" occupations? What is your perspective on how certain occupations came to be considered male or female occupations?
ReplyDeleteValena,
DeleteIt always feels good when you feel like you can learn something you would otherwise rely on someone else for. They are very ambitious occupations to take on, but my interest and knowledge in other areas supersedes the intimidation. I am a learner, and the more I know about fixing the vessels that contribute to my every day life and occupations the better! I would say that a part of my self-knowledge stems from choosing the more masculine occupations for sure, but I think that comes with prior experiences. I came from a family who not only instilled independence, but who didn't have much of a choice to choose to do or not do the masculine duties and I think that contributes to the way we perceive what occupations are meant for the female or the male. I think this has a lot to do with why other women snarl at the thought of getting dirty, and that's okay!
Brandy
Ohhhhhhhhh boy, Brandy you've stumbled on a field that I have an odd amount of experience in. Not necessarily hands-on experience, I've never welded a thing in my life, but the combination of my Materials Science degree and a job at a sheet metal aerospace manufacturer means I have a small wealth of knowledge about metal and welds and the combination of the two. Do you see yourself using this new occupation solely from a functional standpoint? Or do you see yourself experimenting with welding as an art form (as in purely an art form, not fixing something and have it happen to look nice). How do you think those two avenues would differ and intersect when it comes to serving or recruiting your life? Let's talk welding sometime!
ReplyDeleteJeff,
DeleteMy mother's boyfriend owns a metal fabricating company, fabricating for companies such as Sable, a rat lab company based out of Las Vegas, Micron, and many others. That is my in with welding. I wish I had more knowledge within the trade, but I guess that is why I am here. So far I am thoroughly impressed with the new technologies and advancements within the trade and I can't wait to learn more. I do not have anything that needs structurally or functionally fixed at the moment, but what did come to my mind as a potential project is building a fencing frame. I also thought about being artsy, but would need to put my creative cap on for that. I think both would serve differently in a sense that I would have to try harder at channeling my creative abilities and I would feel more confident and comfortable with a structural plan to complete. I do think the outcomes of both would give myself a sense of self-confidence and make me more self-aware of my capabilities.
Brandy