My first job shaped my future in more ways than I could ever have for-told. My father wanted me to desperately learn a trade...and stay away from just screwing around for the summer. He knew some folks at the local fabrication shop, and got me a job as a fitter's helper.

We built asphalt plants. First summer (I was 15)...I was simply a helper...sweeping up, fetching parts, holding things in place for the welders...basically whatever was needed of me. Learned a lot about building things, and grew strong quickly. 10 hour days in mid-july in texas working inside a shop was a good learning experience about hard work.

The job progresses...next summer I was able to help weld a bit...and some of the guys took me under their wings to teach me the art of welding. The next summer I was hired in as a welder, running mostly 1018 rods and sometimes hard-wire. The fourth summer, I was hired in as a welder...but was given small projects to complete on my own, with my own helper.

I left that last fall for engineering school. This experience provided me with much "know-how" on how things get built from the ground up. I use the knowledge daily...