From Welding Novice to Working Professional in One Year

Twenty-one-year-old Camyra Sawyer was the first woman to complete the Welding Technology program at the Career and Advanced Technology Center (CATC) in Spring ‘23. Now the Philly native is already in the second month of her first job where she builds nuclear containers at Holtec. In an industry where women make up less than 8% of the workforce, Camyra is making her way forward with a dedication to her craft, a tenacious attitude, and a network of mentors to propel her toward her goals. 

When she first graduated high school, Camyra began working towards a degree in Mechanical Engineering at another local college. But she found the teaching style to be impersonal, and because she wasn’t having a good experience, she eventually left school. 

Unsure of what to do next, Camyra’s aptitude for technical and creative work, as well as guidance from her relatives, pointed her towards welding. Camyra excelled in her high school wood shop class, and her family told her about how rewarding a career in welding can be. “My uncle has a lot of friends that are welders, and he was telling me they really like it,” Camyra said. “He's a contractor welder, and […] my other uncle was an underwater welder.”

The next decision was where to go for formal training. For Camyra, the choice between CCP and other schools came down to affordability. The College’s program turned out to be much more affordable than other options. 

Camyra enrolled in the Welding Technology program in Fall of ‘22, taking hands-on classes during the day from October until May to receive her certification. The program started out in the classroom, where each student had to pass a test on welding safety before getting to work in the welding room. After passing the safety component, students moved on to learn principles of welding, stick, TIG and MIG welding, how to read blueprints and more. 

From the beginning, Camyra could tell she had found a learning environment where she could thrive. 

“When I came to CCP I thought, ‘I really hope I have one of those teachers that you can just have a normal conversation with,’” she said. “When I met Mr. Poe, he was so nice right off the bat.” 

Camyra was pleasantly surprised that when her instructor, David Poe, introduced himself, he shook everyone’s hands. One characteristic that really stood out, Camyra said, was “when he said ‘I have all my students’ phone numbers, and my [previous students] text me and give me updates on how they're doing at their job [or] when they get a new job, or what they bought with the money they were able to get from their welding jobs.”

This personable style of teaching created an environment where Camyra could patiently learn the craft, embracing the ups and downs that come with picking up any new skill. When Camyra started out, she was nervous to work with potentially dangerous materials like acetylene. “[Mr. Poe] was very encouraging, saying, ‘Camyra, you know you can do it. I'm going to just stay here watch.’ He watched me practice a lot of times. He never gets upset. He never gets angry. He's very patient. He was a really good teacher,” said Camyra. “It's like a one-on-one experience from him even though you're in a classroom full of people.”

Camyra found her passion in the classroom, and is now headed towards a dynamic career with many possibilities. “I like welding for a simple fact that it makes you very creative,” she said. “You can do nuclear [welding], which I'm doing now. You can make doors or railings or furniture for people. You can do underwater welding. There’s a lot of different components that you can choose from; you just don't have to stick to one thing and do that one thing all the time.”

When Camyra applied to her job at Holtec, Poe was there to help her with her resume. After two interviews and a welding test, she received a congratulatory email with a job offer in October. 

Working continuously to improve her skills, Camyra plans to add to her arsenal of welding styles through the welding school offered by her employer, with the goal of eventually working in the medical field. “[When I’m around 22], and I’ve saved a good amount of money, I want to do orbital welding classes and work in a hospital,” said Camyra.

While being a woman welding is rewarding, it comes with its own set of challenges. Camyra said that when she first started, some younger welders would treat her differently than their male co-workers since they weren’t used to working with women. “I felt like a lot of the men in there didn't really take me seriously simply because I'm a girl,” she said. 

As she was determined to succeed, Camyra eventually spoke to her co-workers about these issues, expressing that this was her first industry job and she hoped they’d be more understanding. They had an open dialogue, and Camyra said she’s now close to many of her co-workers. 

For other women interested in entering this field, Camyra has a few words of advice. “You really need to speak up and stand your ground. Ask all the questions!”