By Kathryn Maroney, ROC Small Business Entrepreneurship

BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA - Regional Occupational Center (ROC) provides high school juniors and seniors with amazing opportunities to learn about careers in 30 different industries.

One of the many classes here at ROC is Welding taught by Bill Buzzell. Mr. Buzzell teaches “safety [as one of] the foundational component” of his program. Welding is a very skilled art, as I learned first-hand when I participated in his class for a day. He talked about safety over and over to his students because “welding can be dangerous.” Welding is not easy and it takes a long time to master.

When I was in Mr. Buzzell’s class he taught me one-on-one about welding. Also, he had some of his best students (Sean Tokash and JT Sons  help me along the way. JT showed me how to cut metal and how all the parts to cutting metal work and Sean showed me how to run the welding machines.

Mr. Buzzell has been welding since he could remember, but didn’t want welding as a profession. He had gone into the Navy to become a Firefighter, “but in order to be a fireman in the Navy you had to take over the other responsibilities, the [job title] wasn’t firefighting or fireman it was haul technician which [meant when] the firefighter didn’t have [anything to do they would take on the other responsibilities].”

Between Mr. Buzzell’s great experience and friendly demeanor, plus fellow student’s helpfulness and desire to learn ROC Welding presents great opportunities for students interested in a welding career.