Rashana Jones

My success comes from the advice my father gave me that I carry with me every day. He told me, 'Baby girl, no matter what you do, if you're gonna do it, be the best at it, never give up. Try your best, and whatever you can give is what you give. Don't slack.' That was my biggest inspiration, and I take that with me every day. Even while he was living, I never tucked my tail and was afraid to kind of get in. If I couldn't do it, I still would ask for help, but at least I tried, because I gave it all that I can give. My own stubbornness and determination also played a huge role. My dad didn't believe in me going into the industry at first, but I was just like him with a bullhead, and I did what I wanted to do anyway. Once I got in and showed him what I accomplished, learning several different types of welding that he had never been able to perfect, he changed his whole mind and became super proud of me.

The best career advice I ever received came from my father. After I got into the industry and we had more things to talk about, and after I showed him all the things I had accomplished and learned, including several different types of welding that he had never been able to perfect like TIG welding and orbital welding, he told me: 'Baby girl, no matter what you do, if you're gonna do it, be the best at it, never give up. Try your best, and whatever you can give is what you give. Don't slack.' That advice completely changed how I approach my work. I never tuck my tail and get afraid to get in and try something. If I can't do it, I still ask for help, but at least I try because I give it all that I can give.

If you are going to look into getting a trade, whatever trade it is, definitely join a union. The union is very strong with building successful tradesmen and women, and they make sure that you're educated to do quality and efficient work for the industry. We have top tradesmen and women in different union types, whether that's boiler making, pipe fitting, electrical, even heavy equipment and machinery. They teach you how to do it well. You're not going in green, and you're not without any help and assistance along the way. It's actually an earn while you learn program, and the apprenticeship programs that they offer are excellent. You may go in without knowing anything, and being able to come from not knowing something and becoming a journeyman and a journeywoman is like the top of the iceberg for whatever trade you decide. Women in the union, or women in trades period, are absolutely needed. We thrive in the unknown. There are not a lot of statistics that really can capsize what a woman can actually do in this type of industry. I have shown a lot of growth from learning and being where I am today. We have no limit. Women are trailblazers no matter where they go, but in non-traditional occupations, in trades, we can actually show class skills of accuracy and the level of details that we're able to sufficiently do our work. Once we're shown, once we have understanding, once we're provided with the tools and equipment and safety, we can thrive in any type of environment there is, especially in non-traditional occupations.