Personal Narrative: My Oil Pipeline

It was 65 degrees below zero in Prudhoe Bay Alaska. I remember the bite of the gale as it swept across the frozen tundra attacking every inch of exposed skin; frostbite takes minutes to set in. An adjustable head lamp allowed us to see where we were walking in the dark Artic environment. The Sun would not be coming up for a couple of months. I had read reports of Polar bears in the area earlier in the week and found myself cautiously peering ahead or recoiling at shadows. The Arctic clothing I wore weighed me down, roughly 40 pounds of clothing, as I plodded to my location. We all cursed our heavy clothing while finding haven in its necessary warmth and fortification. The clothing was light in comparison to the sled I pulled behind me; our …show more content…
Our destination was in sight, a 24 inch section of oil pipeline. We were Non-destructive examination technicians, those that would go out to take X-rays of the pipeline in order to assess its integrity. How did I end up out here I thought to myself. It was 65 degrees below zero, my muscles ached, frostbite and polar bears battled over my body though it was not until I took a deep breath and the inside of my nostrils froze together that I realized I could not keep this up for long. Training and education was the answer. I was going to train, study, and research anything necessary to obtain the credentials to become an Authorized Piping Inspector. These were the professionals I worked for and needed to become. To become an Inspector requires 5 years of experience, three letters of recommendation, and a passing grade on the exam. Knowing I met the experience requirements I set out to obtain letters of recommendation. The first was Forrest McMahon, a tough but fair inspector. His experience and wisdom always captured my attention and garnered my respect. We openly discussed my future goals and past performance; he was very supportive. When he asked me if I was going to take the 80 hour preparation course I