Congrats
@MOPARMAGA!!!
I grew up in a little town in Pennsylvania. There were huge machine shops everywhere! Frick Company, Grove Cranes, Landis Machine Company and Landis Tool Company.
I went to Vo-tech during high school. 12 grade I did co-op where instead of attending Vo-tech I went to work at Landis Tool Company. After graduating from high school they hired me full-time to run a turret lathe.
Ironic that the company made machines they sold to the auto industry such as crank grinders, cam grinders, and valve grinders. They even had a foundry so they made the entire machine.
After about 3 years Japan started selling their stuff in.the US and 300 of us were laid off. After that I joined the military and my machine shop career was over.
I'm glad you found a job doing something you like. Like they say, if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life!!