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."
Career Roadmap
Lisa's work combines: Education, Entrepreneurship, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Get your high school diploma or a GED. Go to a community college and start taking classes to see if you actually like what you are interested in. Explore your options and give things a try.
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
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.