I came across this yesterday and found it very interesting. I went the college route because I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. Still don't. But 6 years, total expense at the local D2 university of $12,000 (that ought to tell you how long ago), I earned a BS in Mass Comm and an MA in Communications. Qualifying me to do pretty much nothing of value. I tried my hand at broadcast news, but left in disgust after a year. Then I went into academia. Left after 4 years to take on the best job in the world, Mommy. But I still have my degrees, and with a buck, they'll get me a cup of coffee.
On the whole, I wish I'd learned a trade. Plumber, electrician, engine repair, something useful and needed. Sure, I can tell you all about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and how to edit a :30 voiceover. But I don't see me going back to either.
The 70s was really when the tide turned from skilled trades to college degrees. You MUST go to college to have all the world has to offer. Work smarter, not harder. Well, now we have a couple of generations of spoiled, entitled Americans who feel that getting a college degree entitles them to an executive office, expense account and fully furnished McMansion without putting in any effort whatsoever. Work? What the hell is work? Take a "less than I was promised" job to cover my ass and work my way up? Why? I can't pay back $400,000 in GSLs for my Ivy League degree in Disgruntled Bi-Racial Gay Socialist Women's studies on $30,000 a year. Welcome to reality, cupcake.
Mike Rowe, uncommon common man, is promoting a return to Vocational education as a means of turning the country around. Turning the economy around. This is a really good read, great idea.
“We’ve elevated the importance of ‘higher education’ to such a lofty perch that all other forms of knowledge are now labeled ‘alternative,’” he said. “Millions of parents and kids see apprenticeships and on-the-job-training opportunities as vocational consolation prizes, best suited for those not cut out for a four-year degree. And still, we talk about millions of ‘shovel ready’ jobs for a society that doesn’t encourage people to pick up a shovel.”
Read more HERE.
Adding the Mike Rowe Works site to the blogroll.
Yep! I consider myself a Community College success story. Two year degree in Electronic Engineering and I was immediately hired by Western Electric (Bell System, kids ask your parents=).
ReplyDeleteFollowed that with another two year degree in Computer Engineering a decade later, then finally a Masters in Information Technology another decade later.
Somebody has to fix all the shiny blinky stuff when it breaks!
I also consider myself lucky in being at the right places at the right times.
I'm all for college ONLY if you want to be a doctor, scientist, etc type of professional. Yes they have other degrees, but on the whole are we better served with umpteen zillion early childhood development majors, elementary ed majors, marriage and family therapy majors?? I really think not. Nothing at all wrong with getting filthy dirty, sweaty, and bone weary from hard work. I was one of the only people in my drivers ed class that had changed a tire, plus I was the only girl who had. It was pathetic. I had even changed the tires on a 20 ft stock trailer before my first class. I've held many differing jobs ranging from being paid $2/hour for mucking horse stalls to working for higher end retailers and no one could ever complain about my work ethic and I'm damn proud of it. I'm working to instill that work ethic in the kidlet crew. It's hard though when they see how 'far' laziness can get you.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wish I'd gone to college, but I had no idea what I want to be when I grew up. Well, other than living on a farm and being Mom. But I did the technical thing and have a Cosmetology License and its been handy when I've needed a job. I keep up on my skills with it and I'm always thankful it's there if I need it. Plus, this way, I can tailor my learning to things I'm actually interested in. Hence the soap making. (Plus I can come up with a pretty darn good business plan for managing a cattle ranch and the AI breeding program after having done that for 15 years.) :D
-CM
The key is a marketable skill, vocational or degree but something marketable
ReplyDeleteMe - BSEE, wife is RN and education and sons are Accounting, not business. I agree with Keads, right place, right time.
Terry
Fla.
Right place at the right time doesn't mean anything if you aren't willing to do the work to turn that opportunity in your favor. That's the difference.
ReplyDeleteOf course Keads and Terry are willing to work. Until retirement anyway :-)
ReplyDeleteTerry
Fla
What did it cost the last time you HAD to call a plumber or an electrician to fix a problem on off hours?
ReplyDeleteMy boss just had such a situation--$1,500 BEFORE he even examined the problem.
Yeah, I should have gone that route.
Not so fast Kemo Sabe's, the Shamnesty bill will give illegals priority for Votechs and blue collar jobs. We are screwed, blued and tattooed.
ReplyDeleteAmen, I've been preaching this for almost 30 years.
ReplyDeleteYeah.... or you could follow my path. Three years university as an animal science major. Then quit school, got married, went back two years later as an accounting major for three more years because everyone said the job market there was GREAT.
ReplyDeleteGraduated with a 3.5 gpa and couldn't get an acct job to save my life. Hence the past 18 years as a dog catcher.... cuz you gotta do what you gotta do.
If I had it to do over I'd definitely go the trade route.
If your not scared of heights or electricity come be a lineman...It helps if you have a diploma or a degree in this field but still not required...I have been making good money since I started my apprenticeship and never had a problem finding a job...
ReplyDeleteMy father, the son of a Pig Farmer wanted to teach at the college level. (He's had only "B" grade in his entire life!) So he worked his way through college by building hog troughs in the summer time. Later as a College Professor when his freshman students would ask him what courses they should take as a back up in case they didn't get working in their chosen profession right away he always answered DISHWASHER! lol
ReplyDeleteCM has it right.
ReplyDeleteIf you've been drawing blueprints since the age of four, or arguing Constitutional law in first grade, or have been fascinated with medicine since the doctor slapped you on the butt--fine. Go to college. Chase your dreams and explore your talents.
But if you don't know what you want to do? DON'T GO. Learn a trade. It might not be what you want to do forever, but it sure beats a six-figure piece of toilet paper ending in "______ Studies," which will lead you to nothing more than a lifetime of living in your mom's basement and avoiding collection calls.
There's nothing wrong with honest work. You can be the greatest architect ever, and design a building that will stand for a thousand years--and that building is nothing but a FANTASY. It is a drawing on a piece of paper, and it will remain thus until you find competent, knowledgeable, hard-working people to actually BUILD it. All the theory in the world doesn't mean a beer fart in a hurricane without concrete physical action to back it up.
My mother was adamant that I should go to college. Thank God I was too smart to listen to her.
I am telling my sons Vo-Tec. But the main thing is I made them both take Spanish in High School. Blue collar work going into the future will be in high demand, and if you speak Spanish you can work your way into management.
ReplyDeleteNever been to college, went into the Navy right out of highschool, then got sucked into the retail world for 10 years after that. Worked for management with various degrees to their name, who would ask something like "what improvements do you think we can make around here?" only to listen to a suggestion and reply "we don't do that here. What else?" Duh. If we did it, I wouldn't have suggested it! The only "formal" education I have is a certificate of completion from various Naval nuclear power schools, and the New York Institute of Photography. None of which are "diplomas". Currently working in the IT field....still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, and 40's getting so close I can smell the mid-life crisis. But working with my hands? Not a problem. Been minimum wage several times in my life, but still manage to pay the bills on time.
ReplyDelete"...still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, and 40's getting so close I can smell the mid-life crisis."
ReplyDeleteDear God in Heaven, Rabid, you're a baby child. Shit, I'm old. Headed for the rocker on the porch so I can yell at the kids to get out of my yard.
You don't have to be old to yell at kids from the front porch. You just have to live around annoying kids. I've done that. Our first apartment was next door to someone who shouldn't have reproduced. Their kids thought it was grand to just walk into our house any time they felt like it. Their mom got a tongue lashing for it too. Then they started doorbell ditching my front and back doors. That ended really quick. When I have to be to work at 5 AM and you doorbell ditch me at 10 PM you're lucky if I don't beat you with whatever I can find.
ReplyDeleteShoot, I've been yelling at various kids since I was a teenager. Mainly because the SOB's smeared horse puckie all over my truck and stuffed it under the handles. I didn't get mad though, I got even and they had to detail clean my truck afterwards.
Oh my gosh, I sound like a crochety old fart!
-CM