"He ONLY wants to be an auto mechanic..."

[LIDisneyFan]

DD is in 2nd year of college, and DS is a HS Junior. He is very interested in music, and although we know this is a tough road, and he'll probably never make a ton of money, we are being supportive. Actually, more than supportive - searching out programs, camps, for him (obviously he is doing that too)

Would I have preferred something more stable? Maybe - but then I see the look when he plays and I know he has to follow his dreams.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Maybe that is the new answer to the shortage. I do know that there is/was a certification process they had to go through BEFORE they become an apprentice. You can work in a butcher shop without this, but to be the one to actually cut the meat you have to be "certified" or whatever it is.

The butchers I know all learned the trade from dads or uncles - not schools. It's the kids and grandkids running the shops today.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Hey, Click and Clack are well educated and successful car mechanics. Click has a bachelor of science degree in humanities and science from MIT, while Clack has a bachelor of science degree in economics from MIT and an MBA and DBA from the Boston University Graduate School of Management.

 

[marcyinPA]

My youngest goes to 10th grade next year and I am strongly encouraging him go to vo-tech. He's bright enough, but let's just say he's not a student. Does not enjoy sitting in the classroom and does not aspire to get great grades (much to our despair). Vo-tech puts him to work each day doing and learning to do something he enjoys. He'll graduate prepared to go right into a decent career or to college. But one thing is for sure, he will make it through high school with far less struggles than if we forced him into the academic pathway in which he just isn't comfortable.

When choosing a program, he did consider auto mechanics and I was secretely rooting for that (selfish, selfish!) He's going with Media Communication Technology - wants to be a sound engineer.

I'm a huge supporter of technical education. Learn to do something with your hands that can't be done by someone across an ocean and you already have a head-start on job security, IMO.

My youngest is in 7th grade this year, and has a engineering mind (I think engineering would actually be a great path for him), but he has a passion for cooking, and says that he wants to be a chef. I told him that when he gets to high school, if he still has interest in being a chef, maybe he should go to vo-tech for culinary. He's a very good, diligent student, and will succeed in whatever he does- but if his passion is cooking, then vo-tech is probably a good route for him. We still have a few years- time will tell!