Cassandra “Cassie” Dearing is currently a welding student at the Technical Campus and interning at the Mercedes-Benz Training Center in Grapevine. Her supervisor recently asked members of the Technical Campus staff to come by and tour the facility and see what great work Dearing’s been doing.
During her time there, she’s received the Mercedes-Benz Structural and Thin Panel Aluminum Welding certifications. She’s the first woman and the youngest person to get these certifications at Mercedes-Benz. I interviewed Dearing to learn more about her experience at Collin, why she decided to pursue the welding program, and what she’s looking forward to after graduation.
Q: How did you become interested in pursuing Collin’s welding program?
Dearing: I heard about Collin as soon as I graduated high school. I said to myself: I live in Farmersville, it’s only a 30-minute drive, I don’t have to move. So, it was just placed in my lap and I was like, “Sure, I’ll try it. I’ll go for it.”
Q: Do you have any family members who have worked in welding?
Dearing: I learned welding from my dad and that’s how I fell in love with it. He’s a tradesman – a jack of all trades if you will – so I’ve learned a lot from him and that’s how I grew into it. I like working with my hands and learning a skill that will never leave you and will always have a job for you – that definitely comes with welding.
Q: How has your experience been so far at Collin? Any professors or classes that stand out to you?
Dearing: My experience has been great. Professor (Darrel) Rochell stands out to me. He’s been my professor for the majority of the time, and I could not thank that man enough for everything that he’s done and everything he’s taught me and shown me.
Prior to Collin, I did weld a little bit, but it was only stick welding which is very basic welding. He’s shown me that there’s a lot more to welding. There’s the testing side, the scientific side, and much more.
Q: Tell me about your time working with Mercedes-Benz, how the opportunity came to be, and what you’re enjoying about it.
Dearing: I got a call from Sean Sweeden (a workforce career coach at the Technical Campus) that Mercedes-Benz needed someone to help with the testing side, so it was great to hear about the opportunity. My time here has been great. I’ve been able to network with a lot of the people that come through here, so if I ever need a job, not only do I have my certifications but I can also reach out to some of the guys I’ve met to help me.
Q: I assume there aren’t many female welders. What are your thoughts on that? 
Dearing: In the field in general, everywhere you go you’re going to see a man instead of a woman and I’d love to be an advocate for women in the welding program. I’ve been so lucky to see two more girls on our campus in this program. It takes a lot to weld and to work in this field, so that’s been good to see.
Q: What are your plans after completing the welding program at Collin?
Dearing: I will be graduating in May 2022 with my associate degree. Once I graduate, my internship will end and I know that the certifications I’ve earned here and saying that I’ve worked at Mercedes-Benz for welding will prepare me for the future.
Next, I plan on trying to find a fabrication job that suits me well because you’ll never do the same thing twice. It’s not like a factory job where you’re welding the same part for eight hours or 10 hours a day, so I do love the idea of getting to know the fabrication side more. Eventually I want to specialize in Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding which is the most advanced welding. It’s a very hard skill to learn and not many people know that skill, which is why I would love to work on that side and get paid more!
Q: What advice would you give future students who might not know about the program or are unsure if they should pursue it?
Dearing: With welding, you will never be out of a job. You can go anywhere in the world and have a job. That’s great job security knowing that you’re going to have enough money to put food on the table for your family and for yourself, too.
If you’re unsure about the program, just take the first couple of classes – I’m sure you will fall in love. If you know that you like to work with your hands, have a good work ethic, and you’re determined, then I’m sure you will make it in this field.