A Mother of five is breaking barriers in pursuit of her dreams

Being a full-time student is not an easy task. Figuring out schedules, attending classes and managing homework and deadlines can all take their toll. For many students, this responsibility comes on the heels of learning to be on their own and managing their own lives for the first time. 

Non-traditional students, students who didn’t start college right after high school, can face their own unique challenges when it comes to getting an education. Many non-traditional students are trying to balance full-time work, career changes, raising children, caring for other family members, and many other situations that can present obstacles they must overcome in order to achieve their educational goals. 

Jessica Ingram is a non-traditional student who just began her first year at LBCC this term. Ingram, 37, is the mother of five children ages 13, 10, 9, 7 and 1 years old. In addition to juggling the responsibilities of being a mother to a large family and a newly enrolled full-time student, Ingram has chosen a degree and career path that not many other women choose–she enrolled in the Pipe Welding Program.

“Welding is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Ingram said. “My uncle was a welder, and he was one of my favorite people, so welding was something I was always interested in. I can’t really explain it… It just feels like it’s my calling.”

After high school Ingram worked several different jobs to support herself. She eventually started a career as a banker, which she enjoyed and did well at. After having children she took several years off to be a stay-at-home mom. She went back to working when her children were in school, but after baby number five came along, she made a decision.

”I had waited long enough,” said Ingram. “It was time to stop putting my education on the back burner. So, I started college.”

Ingram lives in Albany with her children and her partner, Aaron McKinnon, who is a graduate of the Heavy Equipment Diesel program at LBCC. McKinnon took several welding classes while working on his degree and really enjoyed them and the welding faculty.

“He really encouraged me to go back to school after the baby was born,” said Ingram. “He told me how great the welding program was and said I should just do it.”

McKinnon now owns and operates his own business as a mobile diesel mechanic. Since his job has a flexible schedule, he is able to stay home with the couple’s 1-year-old while Ingram attends classes. 

“I get up around 6  every morning and feed the baby, I’m still breastfeeding,” Ingram said. “Then I come home on my lunch break to eat and feed the baby again. But Aaron takes care of everything else. He takes all the other kids to school and picks them up. I really couldn’t do this without him.”

“For the most part, me going to school works just like having two parents who are working,” Ingram continued. “I get home and make dinner and we all do our chores and homework and spend time together. My kids are so proud of me. My oldest and I have an ongoing joke about homework. I’ll ask if they have homework and they’ll answer back, ‘Do you have homework, mom?’”

As far as her classes go, Ingram told me that she’s really enjoying the program so far. 

“I love welding, and I’m actually doing really well at it. Also, it’s not as hard as I thought it was going to be. The teachers make it really great. They’re all so encouraging and they give you every resource and tool you need to succeed. The hours are also great, and It really makes me feel like I can succeed.”

According to LBCC’s institutional data, just 20% of the students who have declared a major in Welding and Fab Tech identify as female. Ingram knew going into the program that being female in a male dominated industry would be something she would be dealing with..

“I knew going in that it would be different. That I was going to stick out as a woman,” Ingram said. “I knew I was going to have a little bit of a struggle fitting in. But I do feel like I belong here. Yes, I’m a woman, but I’m also just a person, and I don’t want anyone to think they have to treat me differently just because I’m a woman.”

Ingram told me that there was one other female in her cohort, and that has been nice to have another female in her classes. But what’s been more challenging for her than being a female, is being older than the other people in her program.

Just 30% of students in the Welding and Fab programs are over the age of 25. The data doesn’t specify beyond that, but department chair Marc Rose confirms that the numbers are far less for students over 35. 

“It feels kind of a little bit lonely because it’s not like everyone is lining up to work with me because I don’t have a lot in common with the other students,” Ingram said. “I feel welcome, and I’m looking past it but the age difference sometimes can be a communication barrier.”

Ingram isn’t letting any of the barriers she’s facing get in the way of her dreams of becoming a welder though. She is working hard everyday and says she’s “treating school just like a job.” After graduating she wants to go into business with her partner or possibly live out a dream of returning to Texas where she’s from and working as a welder on the pipe lines. 

For other women, especially mothers, who are thinking about a career in the trades, Ingram has these words of encouragement:

“Even though I’m a mom, and I have five kids, and life can be out of control sometimes, you can still pursue your dreams and work hard and get dirty. There’s nothing wrong with a desk job, but women can do hard jobs also. We can do hard things and put our bodies through hard work. It’s good for you. I just want to be a good mom and a really hard worker.”