California native earning Welding Technology diploma
Mikaila Soule, 24, is an exceptionally busy student at Dakota County Technical College. Not only is she earning a 36-credit diploma in Welding Technology with plans to graduate May 2021, Mikaila also plays professional football as a linebacker and safety (#47) for the Minnesota Vixen in the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA).
Mikaila Soule
When she’s not going to school or playing football, Mikaila holds down a 40-hour-a-week as a tire technician at Costco Wholesale. Up until January 2021, Mikaila was working an additional 40 hours a week at Kendell, a door and hardware manufacturing company in Mendota Heights.
“With school and both jobs, I was putting in about ninety-five hours a week,” she said.
On top of that, Mikaila recently purchased a new home in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. One of her favorite hobbies is DIY projects around the house.
“Before we moved in, we had a little bit of work to do,” she said, noting those initial small projects ignited a drive in her to take on repair and remodel jobs. “I just brought my bathroom down to the studs and am completely redoing it. The bathroom is my first major project, and I’m really proud of the tile work I did. I have plans to redo almost every room in our house.”
Mikaila’s bathroom remodel gallery
After
Before
After
After
Mikaila’s skill-set, financial and career goals
Mikaila’s career aspirations are always changing, but one goal she wants to accomplish is becoming an underwater welder.
Underwater welding
“I lived in the water as a kid,” she said. “I was both a swimmer and water polo player. I loved being outside. I also really enjoy building and fixing things. So, if you put the two of those together, you get underwater welding.”
In the meantime, Mikaila is considering joining either a carpentry or pile driver union. She views working in these occupations as a way to master skills she can apply to a range of DIY projects, large and small.
“One common theme throughout my life is building things,” she said. “One of my goals is to be able to build a house. Getting into a carpentry union would teach me the skills and give me the experience I need to accomplish that goal. I love staying busy.”
During her time at DCTC, Mikaila was awarded a $1,000 Dakota Electric Association Scholarship. She follows the financial advice of Ramsey Personality, Anthony ONeal, in his book Debt-Free Degree and will not take out loans to get an education.
“Receiving a scholarship is probably the best way to achieve this goal,” she said, “and because of Dakota Electric, I will have a debt-free degree.”
Playing linebacker and safety for the Vixen…
Mikaila Soule #47
Mikaila loves playing professional football. She is competing in a sport where she finds her spark (Soul, Disney Pixar).
I am very happy playing pro football. Between water polo and hockey, I have always been a physical player. I was annoyed when I played lacrosse because the rules were so different—I was such a football fan, and I really wanted to play, but never got the chance.
So, when the opportunity arrived to play with the Vixen, I was all hands in. I am not a violent person, but being able to annihilate a QB is something that you cannot imitate legally anywhere else. I love both the mental and physical challenge of football. I love being on a team.
Mikaila Soule Welding Technology Student Dakota County Technical College Linebacker/Safety Minnesota Vixen
Mikaila Soule: Vixen football gallery
More about Mikaila…
Mikaila and Nina
Originally from Murrieta, California, a city of nearly 104,000 residents near Palomar Mountain in the southwestern part of the state, Mikaila attended Vista Murrieta High School from 2011 to 2012. She went on to attend Woodbury High School in Woodbury, Minnesota, graduating in 2015.
Mikaila has been with her partner, Nina, for six years. Nina is an assistant manager at a Kowalski’s Market deli. Mikaila and Nina have two pets, a 15-year-old cat named Piggy and a 3-year-old bunny named Chica Bun Bun—Chica for short.
Three words that describe you as a person:
ENERGETIC. AMBITIOUS. RELIABLE.
Growing up in California, Mikaila loved to go dirt-biking in the desert with her dad and brother. She enjoyed taking apart both her bicycle and dirt bike—and putting them back together.
“When I wasn’t in school, I spent most of my time as a kid in my friend’s backyard, which was basically a skate park,” recalled Mikaila, who competed in softball, hockey, lacrosse, water polo and swimming in high school. “I skated, BMX’d and spent a lot of time scootering with my friends.”
Along with completing DIY projects around the house, she enjoys working on her car and car audio. She really likes listening to music. Mikaila and Nina reside with Piggy and Chica in Cottage Grove, Minnesota.
Mikaila life gallery
One word that best describes your experience at DCTC:
With my wife, Nina, in our home in Oceanside, California.
What person has influenced you the most in life?
I don’t have anyone in mind. I believe you are in control of the outcomes in your life (to a certain extent) and idolizing people can detour the way you are as a person.
This does not mean I think other people are bad, but in following people so closely it’s very easy to lose yourself and feel as if you are a failure compared to said person.
The Welding Technology program at Dakota County Technical College offers a variety of training in different welding processes specific to the welding trade. As a student in the program, you will gain knowledge through theory in class and hands-on experience in our state-of-the-trade welding labs.
Major topics and welding processes will be covered in this nine-month course to ready you for entry-level positions in the industry. Subjects covered include:
Shielded Metal Arc
Gas Metal Arc
Flux Cored Arc
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Processes Oxy/Fuel
Plasma Arc
Carbon Air Arc Cutting
Gouging Processes
You will work with a variety of metals, including steel, stainless steel and aluminum. Shop Fabrication, Blueprint Reading, Math, Visual Inspection and Safety are also covered in the curriculum.
Favorite sport or physical activity: Currently, football
Place you would most like to visit: Australia
The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Being a part of the WFA (Women’s Football Alliance)
Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Give to charity 2) Pay off my house and probably buy like 10 houses 3) Invest a lot of it to continue to grow wealth and continue to, “Give and live like no one else.” — Dave Ramset
Favorite TV show you’re watching now: Grey’s Anatomy, Station 19—anything produced by Shonda Rhimes; also Letter Kenny
Best movie you’ve seen lately: Soul (not only is it amazing, but it shares my last name)
One thing you want to accomplish most in life: Wealth
Your national bird if you were your own country: Northern cardinal
Weld or join metal pieces together using hand-welding, flame-cutting, or brazing tools.
WAGE
Above the statewide median of $21.49/hour.
Minnesota
Median: $22.42/hour
High: $26.60/hour
Seven-county Twin Cities metro
Median: $24.44/hour
High: $28.43/hour
OUTLOOK
In Minnesota, there are 10,020 workers employed in this large career, which is currently in very high demand and seeing high growth compared to other careers. Growth rate is 4.6 percent. There will be a need for about 11,565 new Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers to meet market demand between 2018–2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.
Connie Larson’s Advanced Photoshop class recognized by Farmington City Council Students in the Advanced Photoshop class taught by Connie Larson, a graphic design technology…
I am very happy playing pro football. Between water polo and hockey, I have always been a physical player. I was annoyed when I played lacrosse because the rules were so different—I was such a football fan, and I really wanted to play, but never got the chance.
Place you would most like to visit: Australia
Your national bird if you were your own country: Northern cardinal
