By Deonte Grimes and Jessica Friedman
For Aaniyah Rowell, welding became much more than a career choice. It became a pathway to independence, purpose, and the future she envisioned for herself and her family.
Growing up, Aaniyah always enjoyed working with her hands. While many of her peers were drawn to traditional classroom learning, she found fulfillment in building, creating, and solving problems. After enrolling in college to study environmental science, she quickly realized that the academic path she had chosen was not the right fit.
“After enrolling in college to study environmental science, although I loved it, I quickly realized that the academic environment was not right for me.”
That realization led her to explore skilled trades, a direction that felt natural given her upbringing. Her father, a mechanic, had long encouraged her to learn practical skills and work with tools. He introduced her to welding on a small scale, and it did not take long for her to discover a passion for it.
“I thought, why not have fun and make money at the same time?.”
What began as curiosity soon developed into a clear vision for her future.
When Aaniyah attended her first welding pathway orientation, she wasn’t sure what to expect. One of her biggest concerns was whether she would be the only woman in the program. Instead, she found a welcoming and supportive group of peers who encouraged one another throughout the experience.
“We had the absolute best group and experience.”
That sense of community helped her navigate the challenges that came with balancing work, personal responsibilities, and the demands of training. Like many students entering a new field, there were difficult days and moments of uncertainty. Yet she remained focused on her goals and embraced every learning opportunity that came her way.
One lesson from orientation continues to guide her today: the importance of professionalism.
“Even if I’m having a bad day, I may be quiet, but I keep my professionalism.”
That mindset has served her well as she continues to grow in her career.
For Aaniyah, her journey has never been solely about herself. Family has remained one of her biggest sources of motivation. She speaks often about the sacrifices her mother made to support her and create opportunities for her to succeed. As she builds her own career, Aaniyah is determined to return that support.
She wants to help ease her mother’s burdens and provide the kind of stability her family worked so hard to achieve. Every step forward in her career represents an opportunity to give back to the people who stood behind her when she was finding her path.
At the same time, she hopes to set an example for her younger brother. She wants him to see firsthand that hard work, discipline, and perseverance can create opportunities that once seemed out of reach.
“I want him to know that if you put in the work, it pays off.”
For Aaniyah, success is not measured only by a paycheck. It is about showing the next generation what is possible through determination and commitment.
Today, Aaniyah is putting her welding skills to work at Valmont, where she contributes to large-scale infrastructure projects that impact communities across the country. Every day she sees the results of her work firsthand, a rewarding outcome for someone who always preferred learning by doing.
Working in the industry has also given her a firsthand look at the realities of a field that continues to be dominated by men. She is one of only a small number of women on her job site and currently the only Black woman on her team.
Rather than viewing that as an obstacle, she sees it as motivation.
Aaniyah takes pride in representing women in the skilled trades and hopes her success encourages others to consider careers they may not have previously imagined for themselves. She understands that stepping into spaces where few people look like you can be intimidating, but she also believes those moments create opportunities to break barriers and challenge expectations.
She is determined to excel not despite being a woman in the trades, but because she wants to demonstrate exactly what women are capable of accomplishing in the industry.
Another driving force behind Aaniyah’s success is her refusal to let her circumstances define her future. She speaks candidly about wanting to defy the odds and build a different future than the one often expected of people growing up with limited resources.
She is committed to creating financial stability not only for herself but for her family. The skills she has gained through the welding pathway have opened doors to a career that offers growth, opportunity, and long-term success. More importantly, they have given her confidence that the future she envisions is within reach.
Aaniyah remains focused on what’s ahead. Whether she is developing new skills, advancing in her career, or setting bigger goals for herself and her family, she is constantly looking forward.
That future-focused mindset keeps her motivated.
“There’s always something bigger to work toward.”
Along the way, she credits many people for helping her succeed.
Her instructors challenged her, pushed her to improve, and prepared her for the realities of the industry.
“Our instructors taught me so much,” she said. “It was tough love, but they taught well.”
She is equally grateful for the support she received from her Viable Pathways Advisor, who advocated for her with an employer, personally drove her to an interview, and waited throughout the process.
“He is the reason I have my job.”
While Aaniyah is quick to share credit with those who helped her along the way, her success is also a reflection of her own determination, work ethic, and willingness to seize every opportunity presented to her.
Looking back on her experience, she has no hesitation when recommending the program to others who may be considering a career in the trades.
“It set me up for my future,” she said. “There’s nothing I would change about it.”
For Aaniyah Rowell, welding has become more than a profession. It is a way to support her family, inspire her younger brother, break barriers, and create a future defined not by limitations, but by possibility. Through hard work, resilience, and a commitment to always looking ahead, she is proving that success is built one opportunity, and one weld, at a time.
