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When Kaylee Harris graduated from high school in 2019, she thought she was headed to a traditional four-year university.

“I applied … because that’s where a bunch of my friends were going,” Kaylee Harris, 24, said. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I just thought I’d figure it out.”

Instead, she was waitlisted.

The rejection felt like a change in direction she had not expected. Through conversations with advisors, she learned she could begin at 51����Ƶ and later transfer. Soon, what began as a backup plan quickly became plan A.

“I’m kind of glad I realized I didn’t want to go there anymore,” Harris said. “It’s way more affordable at Ivy Tech, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do anyway.”

She enrolled at Ivy Tech Indianapolis that fall, taking 19 credit hours while working two jobs. She started in general education courses before shifting into art, her longtime passion. She gravitated toward 3D sculptural work and photography, pushing herself creatively during the early months of the pandemic.

But while art once energized her, burnout set in. Walking down the hallway of the Glick Technology Center one day, she saw a poster for welding technology and thought, “Why not?”

“I didn’t even know Ivy Tech offered welding until I saw that poster,” Harris said. “I decided to enroll in a class simply because I thought it would be something fun to do.” 

That spontaneous decision changed everything.

Finding Confidence in the Welding Lab

Harris began taking welding courses while still enrolled in art classes. In the lab, she found something she had not expected: encouragement, structure, and a deep sense of belonging.

She credits Charles House, Ivy Tech Indianapolis program chair of welding technology, for helping her see her potential.

“I know Charles House appreciated me. He thought I was doing well in class,” Harris said. “He and Derek [Crocker] were very supportive and the reason I stuck it out.”

As one of the few women in her classes, Harris was aware she stood out. But instead of feeling isolated, she felt empowered.

“They loved the idea that I was a woman in trades,” Harris said. “They knew I was going to face challenges just for being a woman in a trade.”

She remembers being nervous on her first day in the welding lab, but also excited. The hands-on environment, the demonstrations followed by practice, and the satisfaction of improving bead by bead gave her a new sense of direction.

“I think the satisfaction of it once I started getting better was huge,” Harris said.

In 2022, Harris graduated with a technical certificate in welding and stepped confidently into the workforce. 

Hired Immediately, Tested Early

Harris did not have to wait long to put her certification to use.

With a recommendation from her instructor, she landed her first welding job at a small fabrication shop that specialized in large-scale public art. The work was creative and, in many ways, a full-circle moment for a former art student. She contributed to public art installations across the country, including projects in Washington, D.C., California, and Michigan.

But the experience also exposed her to the realities many women face in male-dominated industries. She encountered harassment, unequal pay, and what she describes as a toxic work environment. Despite working long hours, advocating for safety, and proving her skills, she was ultimately pushed out.

Still, Harris refused to let that chapter define her.

“I was worth it the whole time. I just needed a place that saw my value.”

A New Chapter at Major Tool & Machine

Through a connection that again traced back to Ivy Tech and House, Harris interviewed at  on the city’s near north side.

Her new team lead knew House and called him for a reference. Harris completed a weld test and entered the company’s internal training program, earning 15 out of 16 certifications on her first attempt.

Today, she works on precision components and casings tied to government contracts and advanced manufacturing. She has also spent time in a clean-room environment, assembling parts for high-tech machinery used in microchip production.

The path has not been linear, but it has been validating.

“I’m making more than what I had asked my last company for,” Harris said. “That’s validating in some regard, because I was worth it.”

At 24, she already understands the long-term value of a skilled trade.

“No matter where I go, I will be needed,” Harris said. “There’s going to be a demand – there is a demand – and I see it.”

Advice for Others Interested in Trades – Especially Women 

Harris sees more young people reconsidering the traditional four-year route. Some of her friends with bachelor’s and even master’s degrees have struggled to find stable work, while she stepped into a career quickly and without student loan debt.

“I’m very fortunate that Ivy Tech was so affordable that I don’t have student loans,” Harris said.

Her advice to high school students, especially young women considering nontraditional paths, is simple.

“Just go for it and throw yourself into it,” Harris said. “You can take one class just to see if you like it. If you hate it, you can change. But you never know what kind of community you’re going to find as a welder.”

That community made all the difference for her. From House’s encouragement to instructors who connected her with employers, Ivy Tech Indianapolis provided both technical skills and professional momentum.

Harris was recently featured in the of the latest , which explores the rise of hands-on skilled trades and how Ivy Tech is helping train the next generation to fill thousands of open roles across Indiana. Her journey, from waitlisted high school senior to certified welder at a leading Indianapolis manufacturer, is one example of what is possible when students find the right fit.

The path she once saw as a backup plan has become her foundation.

And she is just getting started.

NEXT: Meet Mechanical Engineering Alum & Endress + Hauser National Product Marketing Manager Ashley David