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Lisa Legohn
Lisa Legohn
01:18

Lisa Legohn

Los Angeles, CA USA

"Don’t let opportunities pass you by. They’re not always going to come and knock on the door—you have to go look. It’s about wanting, knowing, and preparing yourself to get that prize or that dream."

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Lisa's work combines: Education, Entrepreneurship, and Teaching / Mentoring

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Day In The Life

Master Welder

I teach welding and TRI.

01:53

Day In The Life Of A Master Welder

My Day to Day

I usually get to work at around 6:15 in the morning and get ready for a day of teaching. My students get into class at 7am and at that time I pass out the equipment we are going to be using. I then go to teach my lecture course at 11am. I start winding down my day at around 2pm when my classes are down. I am also part of the academic senate, so occasionally I have to go to departmental meetings.

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

I ended up listening to a certain extent. I knew that the life of a welder was a difficult one and that my personal goals would conflict with it. So, I decided to teach welding instead. I could still enjoy what I was doing and have the flexibility in other areas of my life.

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Vocational

    Welding Technology/Welder

    Los Angeles Trade Technical College

  • Certification

    Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching

    California State University-Long Beach

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    Grew up in Hollywood, CA.

  • 2.

    While in high school, she took a year-long ROP (Regional Occupational Program) in welding at the Watts Skills Center.

  • 3.

    Due to this training, she was able to start welding professionally right after graduation.

  • 4.

    Attended Los Angeles Trade Technical College to pursue her degree in welding—she continued working as a welder throughout college in order to build up her field experience.

  • 5.

    After earning her associates degree in welding, she started attending classes through UCLA Extension to learn about teaching techniques.

  • 6.

    She later went to California State University, Long Beach to earn her teaching credentials.

  • 7.

    While going to school, she was working full time as a pipe welder in the morning and teaching welding classes at night at Compton Community College.

  • 8.

    She is now a Master Welder and Associate Professor of Welding at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Teachers:

    If you want to have kids and be married someday, welding is going to be too difficult to maintain as a career.

  • How I responded:

    I ended up listening to a certain extent. I knew that the life of a welder was a difficult one and that my personal goals would conflict with it. So, I decided to teach welding instead. I could still enjoy what I was doing and have the flexibility in other areas of my life.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

Click to expand

  • While going to school, I made too much money to qualify for financial aid, but still couldn't afford it, so I had to take on a part-time teaching job.

  • After years of carrying and lifting heavy materials, it has taken a toll on my body. I've also struggled with colon cancer.

  • At one point, I was going to school to earn my teaching credentials, working a full time pipe welding job, and teaching part-time classes. My day would start at 4am and end at 11pm.

  • When I was first starting out, it was not common or popular for women to pursue non-traditional careers. I got a lot of negativity about my decision at first.

  • My parents got a divorce when I was 4 years old.