San Jacinto College adjunct welding instructor Sharon Guerrero stands in a welding bay at the North Campus, surrounded by sparks and steel. At 27, she’s mastered a trade that satisfies her curiosity.

“I used to look at structures and wonder, ‘How do they build that?’” she said. “Now I know how and what tools they used.”.

Raised near Houston, Guerrero first enrolled at San Jac as a dual credit student in the pharmacy tech program, but due to circumstances beyond her control, she wasn’t able to finish. Working as a server after high school, she felt stuck and unfulfilled.

Sharon Guerrero

Welding had fascinated her, but the profession’s stereotype as “men’s work” kept her from pursuing it.

Everything changed when Guerrero was 23. Her childhood best friend died suddenly of a heart attack related to pre-existing health conditions. It became a defining moment in her life.

The loss was devastating and disorienting and forced her to reassess her path: “I felt like I hadn’t done anything that I felt accomplished about. I hadn’t tried anything.”

She thought back to the program she had almost chosen years earlier.

“I always wanted to try welding, but I never did because I thought it wasn’t for me,” she said. “I just thought, ‘I’m going to try it. What’s the worst that could happen? I fail, and I quit? Life is too short not to take big steps.’”

In 2020, Guerrero finally enrolled in San Jac’s welding program. The training not only challenged her in unexpected ways but also satisfied her deep curiosity about how things work while combining industrial skill with artistic expression.

“What I enjoy the most is that it’s more than just a job. Welding is also art,” she said. “Even in regular jobs where you’re just welding a pipe, it has this art to it. When it’s done correctly, it comes out very beautifully.”

But welding also meant stepping into a workspace where she was often the only woman.

“I would ask some guys who have been there 20 years, ‘How many other girls have worked here before me?’ A lot of times, I would have been the first one,” she said.

The experience taught her hard lessons about workplace dynamics and self-advocacy. Many male colleagues wanted to help, but their protectiveness could feel patronizing.

“The men were overprotective about things I could easily do myself, always worried I’d get hurt,” she said. “I would get mad and be like, ‘Do you think I can’t do it?’”

Over time, she learned to distinguish between support and condescension, accepting help offered in good faith while maintaining her independence and proving her capabilities.

After earning her degree in 2022 and gaining field experience, Guerrero was invited to teach part time. Now, she supports students, especially women, who may feel out of place.

With over 120,000 followers on her Instagram, @miss.welds, she partners with welding brands to showcase women in skilled trades and inspire others to try the unexpected. The woman who once felt stuck now embraces the unknown.

“The feeling of doing something different is nice,” Guerrero said. “Usually, when I try something new, I like it.”

Guerrero’s journey isn’t just about her career — it’s about transformation. From grief came purpose, from doubt came confidence, and from steel came sparks. She has forged her own path.

Learn more about the San Jac’s welding technology program.

By Melissa Trevizo