Read about Steve Torrens, a graduate of College of The Albemarle’s (COA) Welding course.

Steve Torrens dropped out of high school during his sophomore year. Years later, the 33-year-old Torrens had a resume filled with an assortment of jobs, including digging ditches, washing cars and working in restaurants. They were all low-paying jobs, Torrens said, that lead nowhere.

“It all sucked,” said Torrens, who earned his High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) from COA, while simultaneously taking classes in the school’s Welding Technology program of study. The school’s Accelerating Opportunities program allows students to pursue vocational classes while studying to earn their HSEDs.

“It gives them a trade to learn while they’re completing their HSED,” said COA welding course instructor Michael Lopes, referring to the Accelerating Opportunities program. “So they will have experience to go out into the workforce and get a job.”

After three semesters of study, Torrens graduated from COA’s welding course and was accepted into the Iron Workers Union in Norfolk to work in the organization’s apprenticeship program.

The apprenticeship allowed Torrens to work different building and construction jobs as a welder while he also attended classes through the local Iron Workers Union. “I went to school two nights a week and worked five days a week for four years,” Torrens said.

At the conclusion of the apprenticeship program, Torrens graduated to a journey-person, a position commanding the best wages and benefits. And throughout the four-year program, Torrens’ wages as an apprentice increased over the duration of his training. “So I went from 50 percent pay scale, to 100 percent pay scale,” he said.

For Torrens, it is hard work that has finally paid off.

Throughout his three semesters in the welding program at COA, he maintained top grades. This distinction got him noticed. After his first semester in the program, he was named Outstanding Welding Student.

“He was an awesome student,” Lopes said. “He showed up early and he gave 110 percent. I couldn’t have asked for a better student.”

Lopes said COA helped place Torrens in the apprenticeship program at the Iron Workers Union in Norfolk.

Lopes learned Torrens’ reasons for pursuing his education at COA. “He was just tired of living at home,” Lopes said. “He wanted to get a good job and get his own place. That was his motivation.”

Seeing him meet his goal, Lopes added, is gratifying.

And for Torrens, having a career to look forward to is a dream come true. “I never thought I’d be going to college,” he said. “No one else in my family went to college.”

“I can go anywhere pretty much and weld now,” he added. “I got to push the restart button in life.”