In high school, Lisa Cole thought she might like to become an artist until her practical side won out and she briefly majored in psychology. Then came an arc of inspiration that has provided her with practical skills and the possibility of a creative future.
“My grandma has worked in shops since I can remember and I always thought how cool it was she could handle the same kind of work men could. We saw a news show on welding, and I asked her if she thought I could do it, and she encouraged me to try,” says Lisa, who first attended Macomb after graduating from Roseville High School, but left after struggling with a major she really didn’t want. “Going back to Macomb for welding really changed my mind about school. It made it something fun to learn and to do.”
Lisa is one class away from her advanced certification in welding and is employed full time as a welder at Triune in Troy. She intends to continue on and earn an associate degree. Eventually, the former ceramicist hopes to begin welding her own art pieces and selling them at art fairs.
“Some of the guys I work with make some awesome things on their lunch hours,” says Lisa. “There is such an artistic side to welding. And it wasn’t as threatening as I thought it would be. The hardest part was finding small enough welding gloves.”