i'm from n-WI born and raised, had lots of work for my rig once i got started, but then skreached to a halt, so i am in co. now chasing rigs, and making $$$$$, SUCKS i had to leave but had to pay the bills. depends on what you want to get into. get as much hands on as possible with all the processes with as many different materials as possible. Then figure out what u like to do. But remember sometime somebody will tell you that you are the "best" welder ever but remember that some where somebody is better, and knows more, and those are the people that you will learn a ton from even if at that time you are not really trying to learn, it will sink in and you will use the info someday. trust me i learn new stuff every day, and use the "little" things every day. Keep your ears and eyes open, and remember to ask ?'s all the time. hope this helps. Also look into a tech, I went 2 NTC in wausau it was great.