After a welding student’s equipment was stolen at a bus stop, welders and community members began offering help as she looks to continue her training.
SAN ANTONIO — She’s one of just a few women in her welding class, training for a career in a field where women remain significantly underrepresented.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, welding is among the occupations with the smallest share of women workers nationwide, with women making up just 5% of the workforce.
That reality made Tuesday’s theft especially devastating.
Just after 4:20 p.m., the student — who asked to remain anonymous — was waiting at a VIA bus stop off Acme Road near Highway 90 when someone stole every piece of welding equipment she needed for school.
She said her tools were packed into a single suitcase, with her welding helmet hooked onto the handle, as she waited for the bus to take her to night classes.
“The bus was about to round the corner, and I had my equipment set right there,” she said, pointing at the sidewalk. “I turned around really quick to get my school ID out of my bag.”
When she looked back, she said a white truck was pulling away.
“All I hear is a car come up,” she said. “I turn around, and all I see is a white truck skirting off down the street with my equipment.”
Inside the suitcase was everything she needed for her welding courses at South Texas Vo-Tech, where she attends night classes. The equipment — including gloves, class projects and a grinder — was purchased through financial aid. She said the grinder alone is the most expensive tool required for the program.
“I feel like they must have been watching me to know what was in the bag,” she said.
The student is about halfway through the school’s 10-month welding program. She said her interest in welding began years ago while she was in high school.
“There was a class next to ours where they were doing welding, and that kind of sparked my interest,” she said. “I looked it up and did my research. I have a thing for building stuff.”
She admitted she initially doubted herself before enrolling.
“I never really pursued it until now because I didn’t think I could do it,” she said. “Then I was like, I’m going to give it a shot.”
The work, she said, has been challenging — but rewarding.
“I thought it was going to be easy, but it’s definitely hard,” she said. “Not only does it satisfy me with the building part, it’s also good to set you up in life.”
She said she hopes to eventually pursue underwater welding.
The theft briefly made her question whether she could continue.
“I’m not going to lie, I’ve kind of been going through it,” she said. “When that happened, it really got me down. A part of me didn’t want to continue because it’s like, what can I do? I don’t have my equipment.”
Still, she said she’s determined to finish the program.
“I’m going to see it through,” she said. “I can’t start something and not finish it. I’m trying to provide a future for my family.”
Her aunt, Destiny Pineda, said the loss was especially painful because of how passionate her niece is about welding.
“I know how my niece’s drive was when she was doing it,” Pineda said. “She would talk about it — the way she talked about it — her spirit just lit up.”
Pineda shared what happened in a Facebook post, hoping someone might be able to help. She said the response was overwhelming.
“It was a lot of different people saying, ‘Oh, I got this,’ ‘I graduated, what does she need?’” Pineda said. “Y’all came through, and y’all helped out in a way that almost had me in tears.”
Some people offered tools they no longer needed, while others offered to replace the most expensive equipment.
“I even had an individual ask about an Amazon wish list so they could order the grinder,” Pineda said, adding that the person said they were giving back because they once needed help themselves.
Despite the theft, Pineda said she holds forgiveness in her heart.
“God says a closed mouth don’t get fed,” she said. “Who knows what they were going through and why they needed it — but don’t take from someone else.”
For Pineda, the support reinforced her faith in others.
“When that came through, it let me know that no matter the darkness, there’s still light,” she said. “And we just have to hold onto that light.”
The student said she plans to file a police report and meet with school officials Monday to discuss her options. She’s also checking local pawn shops in hopes of recovering the stolen equipment.
If you’d like to help financially support the student, Destiny shared her niece’s Cash App: $trulykhaotic. Pineda also welcomes the public to reach out to her on Facebook messenger to share any leads or resources.