Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Ashlee Miller

Being a teenage girl in a traditional man’s job as a welder, Galaxy Deese has blazed into her career at warp speed.

Deese is a fifth-year “Super Senior” at Stanly Early College High School (SEC) and has earned a welding diploma along with her high school diploma and a Stanly Community College (SCC) associate degree, all in just five years.

Originally intending to find a career after earning a bachelor’s degree from a university, she changed her mind to become a welder after participating in a welding club co-sponsored by SEC and SCC.

While earning those credits, she gained notoriety as a successful female in her male-dominated welding classes at Stanly Community College.

When asked if Deese had any advice for other students who want to pursue a career in the trades, she said, “I would definitely say to try it. You can always go for t

he most basic certificate to see if you like the classes and the work involved, and if you happen to dislike it, then you can try a different track.”

Deese is still amazed and grateful for how attending Stanly Early College saved her thousands of dollars in earning her diploma now instead of later as an adult.

“I would say this program has saved me a lot of money. For instance, the average cost of trade school for a welding degree is about $6,500. Through early college, I was able to save about $10,000 that I can instead put toward a house or maybe even a new car.”

Poised to graduate in May 2022, Deese already has a full-time welding job in Davidson County, working at Loflin Fabrication in Denton.

When asked about her plans for the future, she said, “I would like to have my own welding shop and welding rig, which is a work truck that consists of a welder and any other tools one may need for the job, so that way I can do the jobs I want and go mobile with welding.”

Ashlee Miller, a student at Stanly Early College, writes about fellow students and issues at the school.