College or the Trades? The Conversation Is Changing
For decades, young people were given a fairly simple message: graduate from high school, go to college, earn a degree, and build a career.
There is nothing wrong with that path. College is necessary for many professions and is absolutely the right choice for many students. But it isn't the only path to a successful career — and more young people are beginning to recognize that.
The skilled trades offer something very different. An apprentice can begin learning a profession while earning a paycheck, developing skills that have real value in the marketplace instead of necessarily beginning a career with significant student debt.
Plumbing is a particularly good example. It isn't simply learning how to install a toilet or fix a leaking pipe. Today's plumbing industry involves building codes, gas systems, mechanical equipment, water conservation, public health and safety, emerging technology, and increasingly complex regulatory requirements.
A skilled plumber can progress from apprentice to mechanic, foreman, estimator, project manager, Licensed Master Plumber, business owner, instructor — or any number of other positions within the industry.
The question shouldn't always be, "What college are you going to?"
Sometimes the better question is:
"What do you want to learn how to do?"
And for some young people, the answer may be found in a classroom.
For others, it may be found in a toolbox.
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