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Don’t Want to go to College? Learn a Trade
By JLP | May 17, 2006
Normally I find Tannette Johnson-Elie’s column in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel annoying. However, her recent column on learning a trade is worth reading. I’m of the opinion that not everyone is college material. That’s not to say that they couldn’t go to college if they wanted to, but that maybe life has a different calling for them and a college degree would be a waste of time for them. That’s where trade schools come in. Learning a trade like plumbing, construction, welding, or any other trade can be the ticket to a pretty good living.
The main goal is to live within your means. If you can do that, you can build wealth in almost any field.
Topics: Miscellaneous | 4 Comments »
May 17th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
It seems that a trend toward career oriented colleges is occurring. With all of these career colleges popping up, especially in Southern California, the demand must be high. College is a great place to meet people, learn some interesting things, have fun and get a degree. Unless you are going to be a lawyer, doctor, engineer, scientist, or academian then you will more than likely not find a career in college.
May 18th, 2006 at 7:07 am
I have always thought that unless you are in a career specific program, like Andrew mentions above, that all a college degree shows is that you will stick with something and can be taught. I happened to go the ROTC route and so had a good career lined up right after college which I pursued for 11 years, but if I hadn’t, where do you think my graduating with honor and suma cum laude in psychology would have gotten me? Uh, nowhere special.
I think that trade schools are very respectable, and a good alternative, especially if a person knows what it is they want to do. Lets face it, we could probably use a few more mechanics, lab techs, vet techs, admin assistants, x-ray technicians, etc etc etc etc rather than a bunch of folks who majored in English and don’t have any idea what to do next (plus are saddled with a huge loan to pay off)
May 20th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
A trade can be the ticket to a _very_ good living. If not that, being able to do things yourself is an advantage. What skills are marketable change with time.
May 19th, 2009 at 2:39 am
Gemologist. I am making near 100k now after 10 years in the business.