At the time of writing this article, I was visiting my 92-year old father in the hospital.  For my Dad, it was likely the Omega.  As our family surrounded around his bedside, our tears were flowing openly as we all began to accept the finality of these moments.  One could see him breathing, but he was being sustained on modern medical equipment and his quality of life would be questionable, if he survived at all.

Later, as I sat in the waiting room with my heart filled with grief, I realized how a hospital also provides the Alpha of life.  I saw newborns being cradled by their mothers as they exited the hospital and entered the “cruel world.”  I came to realize the amazing emotions that are forever present in a hospital … from the joys of new life to the sadness of losing life.  As I continued to philosophize, I thought about the stages of life starting with birth, then babies in diapers, then childhood to teenager to young adult on into the longest span called adulthood.  And then, at some point, one becomes elderly and returns back to diapers.

Life takes so many twists and turns for each individual.  At what point does one become destined for his or her life venture?  When does one become slated to be a business maestro, or another an educator or a trades person or an artist or a musician?  Parents play a tremendous role in this grand scheme but it doesn’t stop there.  There are so many other influencers along one’s life path.

Greg Wexler, a welding instructor at Texas State Technical College in Marshall, TX, has influenced the potential in his students by “bringing the artist to stand alongside the technician” in his classroom.  He challenges them to use their imagination and to think on their own.  Please see the article in this issue specific to his successes.  By the way, we learned about Greg when he wrote wanting to become a member of the Image Army.

Roger Day, welding instructor at the Hillyard Technical Center in St. Joseph, MO, was an automatic inductee to the Image Army since he’s a member of the SkillsUSA-VICA National Welding Committee.  In a presentation at the national competitions held this past June in Kansas City, he told his story about “Get Your Career in Gear” and the way he works with industry is excellent.  During their technical expositions, they set-up the trade demo areas in the center of the auditorium and surround the room with the local industry employers.  Sixth, eighth and twelfth grade students participate in research projects to better familiarize themselves with the trades.  Keep it up, Roger!  Your enthusiasm and energy are contagious.

Are you an influencer?  Could you be?  Is there someone out there who could use your advice and direction?  Look around and see where you can improve the Image of Welding and do something about it.  While an education is unquestionably important, make sure it matches the individual’s likes and dislikes, abilities, aspirations, etc.  Sending them to college for the sake of college isn’t always the perfect answer.

My father holds a particularly fond place in my heart as in my family’s.  He was the patriarch and his influence was very strong on every one of us. Combined with my mother’s love, they were the core of a loving family.  How fortunate we were to have them as our parents. Dad was a successful businessman, a leader in his community, a man of morals, an advisory of pure logic, and had a heart of gold.  He was my greatest influencer!  I will miss him greatly.  With the loss of Dad, we have come to an Omega of an era within our family… but at the Alpha of another as I have 10 great nieces and nephews, 6 of them 2 years of age or less.  Let’s hope we can be there for them!  I will make an earnest effort to tell them about the trades.  I hope you will join me in helping our young adults make better informed career decisions.