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Still Building America—Get in where you fit in and be proud

Tyler Donaldson

Tyler Donaldson is only 18 years old, but has a nuanced take on life, work, and making a living that I dig. Get in where you fit in, and be proud of the part you play in making the world go ʼround.

Tyler is a third-generation tradesman, a diesel technician and welder for Empire Southwest in Silver City, N.M. Ever since he can remember he was wrenching and fabbing with his dad.

Although his grandfather (who was a fitter/welder) passed before he could work with him, the legacy he created still pushes Tyler.

“…he still inspired me, through what my dad told me of him,” said Tyler. “At 75 years old, he would get up, go cut a cord of wood by himself, and be back by breakfast. He was just such a hard worker.”

As someone whose own father and grandfather imprinted their work ethics on me at an early age, I definitely get that. The idea of my grandpa working his day job as an engineer, coming home to work on his farm, and still restoring cars or building compound bows or repairing a tractor is enough to push me when I’m thinking that I’ve put in enough hours for the week.

While his dad was hoping he’d choose a career that would be easier on his body, Tyler was pretty set in his path. Even at such a young age he’s already completed his welding technology college courses.

And besides the welding, he’s also into trucks. Here’s how he explains his growth as a mechanic:

“Just tearing into a project, going slow, looking to see how things interact with each other. I saved up and bought my first truck for 400 bucks at 14 years old. It was a 1979 Ford F150 with a bad head gasket. My dad thought I was crazy, but I got it going and later sold it and moved on to the next project, and that's where I got into diesels. Diesels make the world go ʼround.”

Working on heavy machinery gives Tyler the satisfaction of ensuring the cogs of industry and technology keep moving.

“My favorite part of the job I have now is knowing that I keep the machines that dig up all the copper for all the electronics in the modern world running,” he said.

“The best advice I can give is to set your goal moderately high, but achievable. Let's be honest, we aren't all gonna be astronauts when we grow up, but we can be something very essential to society.

“And do it for yourself.”

Yes. Don’t live for what you think your parents want you to do, or society wants you to do. You’re going to spend a lot of time doing whatever it is you chose as a career. If you don’t enjoy that time, life is gonna be a lot harder than it needs to be. I can appreciate Tyler’s candor and honesty. Along with his work ethic, he already has a firm grasp of what it means to live.