Beto Thought Welding Was His Calling!
Beto Patino Luna is a Junior at UW Whitewater.
Beto Patino-Luna is studying Geography with Geology concentration at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater.
Beto joined me on my Podcast recently and shared his undergraduate journey so far.
In particular, he shared how he almost pursued a career in welding.
Here below, is an edited conversation on that topic.
Q1: Tell us about the interests you developed in high school.
Beto: I liked my Math classes my first three years of high school. I was really into math taking the honors version - Algebra classes, Pre-Calculus.
But then, in junior year of high school, I started to think what I was going to go for my career.
And so I started asking people around and I don't know what it was, maybe the people that I had around me, or like the class that I was taking,
I ended up looking more at trade school rather than college.
So my senior year of high school, I stopped taking Math and Sciences
And just started taking automotive classes, welding classes.
And I was really convinced that I was going into welding.
So my school allowed us to take some classes at a community college, and they count for your classes in high school, and you get that credit for college.
So I was taking welding classes my my senior year of high school at a community college nearby.
Q2: What did you do the summer after high school?
Beto: I was convinced I was going to be a welder.
So, the summer between senior high school and first year of college, I was working as a welder in a factory.
I guess what originally got me into welding was because they get paid well, and I felt I could make a comfortable living being a welder.
So maybe at that age, that's how I prioritized.
So I pursued welding. I was being paid well, but I'm not happy.
I'm not feeling fulfilled from doing this job every day!
Q3: What changed your mind?
Beto: I started to ask myself, “Is this what I want to continue doing it for the rest of my life?”
It's not just four years, like high school.
I will be doing this for decades.
And I realized that's not what I wanted to do!
So I thought about other trades, and I didn't see myself finding that fulfillment or happiness from other trades.
So I knew, the only other option was college. Like getting an education.
So I found an affordable college, and UW Whitewater is really affordable.
Q4: As a Junior now, when you look back, what made the difference between wanting to do welding and now possibly pursuing a PhD?
Beto: I've been told that I have a really open mind. I never really thought about this deeply, but I feel I'm open to trying new things.
And I guess, ultimately my decision to switch out of welding came from my desire to find joy & happiness. Your career is such a big thing in your life.
So, I guess I was willing to sacrifice a bunch of things to chase that happiness and fulfillment. You know, that's what was missing in welding.
I want to go to grad school to study geophysics and theoretical computation.
That is motivating for me, and that the work that I hopefully will be doing could contribute to maybe mitigating hazards like earthquake.
Or trying to find more efficient ways for renewable energy, like geothermal energy,
So that in itself, is such a huge motivator for me.
So I think maybe that's what it was missing from a welding career.
On with the Podcast
Beto joins our Podcast to share his inspiring undergraduate college journey at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, Landslide Research, Summer Internships, Choosing Geography with Geology Major, and Advice for High Schoolers.
Listen to the Podcast with Beto Patino-Luna of University of Wisconsin Whitewater. (40-Minute Listen).
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Thanks.
Finally, Thanks to all my Podcast guests who have been generous with their time and counsel on my Podcast.
Hope you are having a wonderful Holiday Season!
Venkat