With support from VRS, Kjirsten turned her passion for welding into a promising career.
Kjirsten first discovered welding on a middle school field trip. It was love at first spark. By the time she was a sophomore in high school, she had taken every welding class available and was sure this wasn’t just a passing interest. Welding was Kjirsten’s vocation.
But turning her interest into a career came with questions. “I was really worried about cost and how I was going to pay for training,” Kjirsten said. “I didn’t know what my options were.”
That’s when Sarah Frisch, a Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) counselor, entered the picture. Sarah met Kjirsten at her high school through an outreach session for students with IEPs. Kjirsten has dyslexia and difficulty with reading comprehension.
“Sarah has always been so helpful, and I feel comfortable with her,” Kjirsten said. “With her, I realized that even after high school, I could still get help and secure my future.”
Together, they explored training options and found the perfect fit: Lynnes Welding Training in Fargo. Though the program was out of state, Sarah was able to find a path to fully support Kjirsten's participation in the training program.
Sarah consulted with her colleague Maureen Lilleby, a counselor in Detroit Lakes, who had previous experience applying for exceptions and provided great guidance. After a bit of research, she found that the cost for the Lynnes program was slightly less than for an equivalent program in a Minnesota welding program. The fact that Lynnes is an accelerated program represented an additional advantage, as Kjirsten would be able to enter the workforce sooner, meaning that wages were a factor to consider when approving the out-of-state tuition. Vocational rehabilitation technician Kristen Schneeberger closed the loop by processing the paperwork to secure a purchase order and pay for school.
Kjirsten did very well at Lynnes. “Instructors spoke highly of her hard work and positive attitude,” shared Sarah. “Beyond mastering technical skills, the program supports students in preparing for the workforce, with guidance on resume writing, job applications, and job search strategies.”
That’s how, straight out of school, Kjirsten got her first welding job with TrueNorth Steel, earning a competitive salary and benefits. Just a few months later, she was offered an even better opportunity at ASN Constructors in Fargo. The position pays more and allows her to continue building her skills. She gets to work on major structural welding projects, including Nelson Studs and Pile Tension Anchors, both critical components for stability of concrete structures.
As she described her work, this young welder can’t hide her excitement: “I work outside every day, and I get to do something new every day, so it is never boring. Welding is its own kind of art. It brings me peace and also challenges me.”
Kjirsten’s long-term goal is to have her own business, “perhaps in auto body repair or creating custom metal art and sculptures or outdoor items – all to do with welding, of course!”
But for now, she’s focused growing her skills while doing what she loves.
When she started https://careerforce.mn.gov/disability-resourceswith VRS, Kjirsten had three main goals: To find a job that didn’t feel like a job (“because I loved it so much”), to achieve financial stability, and to remain debt free. “I was able to check all those boxes! VRS has done so much for me. I couldn’t be more grateful for all the hard work that went into getting me where I am today.”
