Show Thursday October 20 1988 The Eagle-pag- e 9 Freshman welder just wants to be "one of the guys" He treats Pam ns well as the other female students just like one of the guys because that's how they'll be treated on by Jao Ilalliday staff wlrter A college of Eastern the job Utah student is moving to the beat of her own dnunmer by He said that he encourPam to take the full proaged gram which includes classes in drafting chemistry calculus English and others to help broaden her horizon Each student is allowed to advance at their own pace in the welding classes ao the pressure is their own He hopes that other students male and female would consider taking welding classes It courageously registering as (he only female in die welding department Para Allred Emery County is a 23 year-ol- d single d 4 wilha year-olparent daughter She chose welding because there is better money in this field then in traditional womens' jobs and she likes working with her hands Pam is a great explority class It can also be used as a hobby or profession He said that when he asks his students at the end of the quarter what they feel they have learned mostthcy usuallyagrce it was a great class in using their common sense It is great that a few people go after what they really want in life instead of listening to what others think is good for them Perhaps through the courage of Pam and others like her more of us will step out of traditional roles and do what we want male-fema- le admits she's not your "conventional" woman she enjoys hunting river running and horse back riding She likes being with people who are just themselves and not trying to put on an act Her personal goals are to certificate in welding at a get CEU then work in the field for a few yean and return to school for a degree in welding engineering Last spring when Pam was tossing the welding idea around in her mind she was somewhat unsure She spoke to her friends and Sherril Burge director of the Womens Recourse Center She realized that there was quite a bit of support for her decision Asked what response she's gotten bom the guys in shop Pun said that most of them were docent Some were having it rough getting used to the idea of a woman in class and all watch Former student beats the odds DrMMd In waldlng by Anna Murphy staff writer A 1986 CEU high honor graduate is currently enrolled at the University of Utah in Salt LakeGty nothing new right? Wrong It is how she got there that makes her different from other graduates Most of us at CEU remember Dixie Poindexter and the story of how she went from a life of drugs to a life of dreams and happiness How she over came the obstacles that were set before her In 1976 Poindexter had been involved in three car accidents and as a result she became heavily addicted to legal drugs to control the pain As time went on she became immune to their language the legal drugs so she turned to She said that the first day heroin It of class one guy informed her that illegal drugs including and she hand was getting out of cosmetology was upstairs She knew something had to be done laughed and told him that she about her habit knew where she was However Detox centers (drug she says that more women arc abuse rehabilitation centers) in having trouble getting used to the California had not helped her so idea of her being a welder than she relied on her innerseif to get men off the drugs She look her Paul Howa is Pam's to children to her welding instructor and has taught work at raise and went to getting other women welding at CEU of form all off drugs By January He says usually a group of friends and has 1979 she was drug-fre- e will come in together for the been “sober" the past nine years class and that Pun starting alone Poindexter moved back is unusual but encouraging to Price the town she called Howa says that about the only home with nothing but a small real problem for a women is lack suitcase and hand bag With great of physical strength and the men support from her mother she got have to ask each other for help at back on her feet and started to times He feels that there is no work difference between leaching The employers she was women and men that any women working for kept telling her that could enter the welding field - ex-husb- she had enough energy and ambitions to further herself in life through education Because she felt she had low-se- lf esteem did not seem to really hear what was being said to her It took her boss telling her that she did not want her working for her anymore to get her to come back to school As time went by she fell she could do it that she could make it While attending CEU she was a very serious student If she was not sure on something she would ask and ask again until she understood it Poindexter enjoyed her teachers and her classes very much She got great support from the staff the Womens Resource Center and Rehab When she left CEU she left with high honors and was one of 25 nominated for outstanding sophomore for 1986-8- 7 academic year During the Award Assembl) she walked away with one of the outstanding student awards In the fall of 1987 she moved to Salt Lake taking with son and her her her grandchild which die took care of until Fcbuary 1988 She now attends the U of U full lime She has been asked to become a member of PSICHI the national honor sodtey for psychology lialhwi ship She says that her friend supports her and gives his all She shows great appreciation for him and it shows in her eyes as she talks Poindexter's goals are to open a clinc for family and children and give back to the Pam Allrad chacka a apal wald community the support that was given to her during her trying yean She wishes to thank everyone who supported her and wants them to know that without them she would not have made it this far majors She hopes to pursuit grad work in Utah New Mexico Colorado Arizona or any where she can get accepted After completion of her masters degree she hopes to pursure her Ph D in fall of 1990 She has been involved in a growing and positive relation ' CMnton Powal and Brim Hi an mdy lor any opponant ASCEUTuludartflowrnmanL in i N TAG gam baing ipomorad by |