Trading Up: Our Case For Trade Schools | Short Documentaries
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 сер 2024
- Are universities the only ticket to a meaningful and financially rewarding career? Or is there another way? Opportunities in the trades are plentiful and profitable-setting young people up for rapid success compared to expensive and time-consuming college degrees. PragerU’s latest short documentary, Trading Up, informs people about the valuable benefits of a career in the trades and the great pride trade specialists derive from their work-despite our current culture’s narrative that “everyone must attend a university.”
After watching, fill out this survey and let us know what you think about trade schools: prageru.com/tradingupsurvey
Sign up to get notified when new documentaries are released: www.prageru.com/short-documen...
My boyfriend got his CDL license it took about a month and he is now going to make 85000+ his first year driving. Meanwhile I'm saddled with debt for my liberal arts degree and work at a retail store! Trade schools are the way to go!
👍 🚚👊
👏
Just because a four school is right for someone doesn’t mean its right for everyone. We’re all individuals with different dreams and aspirations and there will never be a situation where everyone needs to or wants to follow the herd.
How many rich truck drivers do you know? Now there's your answer!
@@bartsmith5320 I know at least 4 "millionaire " truckers
"I never let school get in the way of my education." - Mark Twain
Also Ted Nugent
Love them both.
That one's going on my "Great Quotes" note board!
The trades are vital for maintaining our physical infrastructure.
You should look and see what the government calls "infrastructure"
This is hands down the best thing I've seen this girl and Mike Rowe need to make a show together
Requiring a high school diploma made high school diplomas worthless. Same is happening to college degrees.
Taking out shop classes and trades that gave real-life practical skills is what made high school degrees worthless. I noticed that few college degrees transfer to the job that the student has in mind. Employers should take accountability for the mess in higher ed, just as the schools should. They are the ones that say that they want pointless degrees and then are unhappy with the results of their applicants. Usually, they only pick people that they already know and diversity hires, anyway, so what is the point?
@@miastrong151You’re absolutely correct. It’s the employers who’ve wanted everyone to have a bachelor’s degree to do a menial job that someone with just a HS diploma can do. If this keeps up, we might as well just turn our HS’ into colleges. Would end the need for a student loan program. Young adults could actually start earning their keep at 18 again, like my parents did.
@@CatholicTraditional "Employers" are just "Other Americans" 😂😂
Thank you john... a college degree is worthless if you wait too long to "master your skill-set" and discover the credits you took years ago do not transfer.
wow. yep.
I grew up believing that getting a 4 year degree was the only sure way to find a successful job. I didn’t even know that trade schools were a valid option. Thank you for raising awareness!
Both of my kids went into the trades, one is an electrician for a municipality, and my other son is in his own home improvement business. They are both debt free and have been doing well throughout the pandemic. I'm very proud of them. IMHO, the bottom line problem with education in the US is, college is a gigantic industry worth 100's of billions a year. Public schools are the sales force, trades classes disappeared so that schools could focus resources on college prep.
Now the public schools in Oregon have decided you can graduate high school without meeting any proficiency standards in math or English. So what’s Oregon selling? 🤦♀️
@@ghhm2705 So what’s Oregon selling? 🤦♀ Sounds like Crack!!
I’m debt free 31 and love it. It’s such a great feeling waking up knowing you don’t owe 300-400k$ in student debt and mortgages and car loans. We may be “lowly construction workers” but we do just fine
10 years ago, I started my college career as a ComSci major, I wanted to build the games others dreamed up.
Then I found out I wasn’t smart enough to compute calculus.
So, we figured I should switch to Acct, because it was algebra and organizing.
But, I was suspended because ComSci trashed my GPA.
I went thru 3 colleges and racked up $$$$$$ of debt 💸 before I got my CDL.
Now, I’m spending most of my income paying down a debt for a degree I never got.
If I ever get married, I’m teaching my kids to make college the last option.
Mike Rowe my man, you are no "B-List" celebrity. You're all "Aces" my friend. God bless you, your family and the community that supports you! You will be remembered as an iconic American treasure 💰, long after you have left this earth 🌎 ❤
Mike Rowe is an absolute man’s man. Truly a man of principle and character
Mike's rocks!
@@johnnyroycerichardsoniii3273 But remember how Prager told us not listen to celebrities!!!!
Ain't That America - Well thankfully I have the ability to think critically and disseminate between “good” celebrity advice (Mike Rowe has excellent advice) and “bad” celebrity advice. Highly recommend you learn critical thinking skills as well, the skill of skills..
@@johnnyroycerichardsoniii3273 Your position is contrary to that preached on Prager U! They have already stated unequivocally that celebrities should not speak on politics! Sounds like ya'll went all in on hypocrisy!
I was pushed to go to college my whole life. After 1 year I dropped out and got an apprenticeship. All of my friends continued school. I was the first to buy a home. Now I have 2 homes and some of those same friends are still not able to afford one.
@R Shinn - GOOD. FOR. YOU!
nice
wow. ... that's so sad. for them
Yeah... I'm like the friends ... Struggling to buy a house. I don't know what trade I would have gone into though! I'm a teacher now, just graduated. Hopefully soon we can get a house. In my country teachers make a lot more than in America though. $70, 000 a year starting salary.
Good for you, truly, but sometimes it’s not about the pace of success. If someone wants to be a surgeon, it’s gonna take 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of med school, and then 5-7 years as aa relatively underpaid resident before they start making 300-700k a year but they’ll definitely be able to afford 2 homes at that point. That time spent in education is 100% necessary for the job at hand. Same goes for people who get PhDs. Success at a young age is extremely admirable bit it’s not always a race
I just listened to her whole interview on "The way I heard it", with Mike Rowe (ep 225). She's such an inspiration to many people... not only for the success she earned, but the tenacity she developed from a young age, and the determination to take care of herself, and never have to rely on anyone again! I would like to shake her hand one day. All I can say is "Well done, Chloe.... well done!"
I wish UA-cam gave us a ❤️ option, because 👍🏽 doesn’t quite cut it! Let’s go Brandon!
End mandatory school, ged and hsd requirements, age limits, minimum wage, and exsessive regulations. End public school. End gov mandated curriculums. End one size fits all education.
People should be able to learn how to do a good job they want so they can afford a house and car before 18.
For those parents who can't afford it, chairty (where the donar gets a full non refundable tax credit that Carry's over for an unlimited amount of years) and or the about $15,000/y spent on k thru 12 could pay for it(vouchers for private or home school or job training) and trash k thru 12 and some of that money could be used to promote more independence and healthy living.
Kids shouldn't be forced to go to school. Kids should have much more choice over their education.
Elon musk and many of the smartest and richest people seem to agree that the public education system sucks and that kids should pretty much be provided with opportunity to learn useful info such as job skills but allowed to choose what they r interested in at least to a larger degree.
Elon musk taught himself to build rockets by reading books reportedly and elon said like u don't need college to learn stuff every thing is available basically for free .
Elon said like there's no need to have a college or high school degree...
Watch videos about elon musk's opinions on education if u need more convincing,
My brother went to a technical high school in South Africa. They were taught, fitting and turning, woodworking, mechanics and Electrical. He chose to specilise in electrical. He had his certificates for that when done. And his technical drawings were the equivalent of 1st year university degree. He later chose to go to university to become an Electrical Engineer. Trade schools are so important.
At university he had a major leg up on most of the other students. They were for the first 2 weeks, still been taught what a screwdriver and other tools were. The university even offered him a job to teach before he had even graduated. He turned them down. Teaching wasn't his thing.
He now runs his own business and is always in demand. True most people will not make a fortune doing a trade. We don't either. But you will never go hungry. During the lockdown because he was able to continue doing some of his work, even when the Motor industry in town was shut down (big part of the town). As he also did work for farmers, Pharmacutical companies and the packagaing companies, so the others could their things into, which were all considered essential companies.
I can't praise this idea highly enough. I tutor young people and have been a MS and HS teacher...and I was the lone voice saying, "Not everyone should go to college." Everyone, though, should learn to learn; and should do work, good hard work, because it is fulfilling and makes you a better person.
This would have been better as a multi-episode show, but this is still a good topic for any content.
I ageee! Would love to a see a series grow from this
Agreed. They could do it showing off different trades and grow they impact the community. I would love to see more of this topic.
Like they can interview different young people like Chloe and how they had a similar path from choosing a white collar career to a blue collar one.
@@blueblade455 My thoughts exactly!! Let's hope they read your comment and use it for future programs 😄😉🙏🏼🙌🏼
Totally something I would love to see! Something I would love to show to my kids too, so they can know there are other avenues to succeed.
And this coming from a guy with a degree in Electrical Engineering that I used for less than a year before my job quit me and I was forced to change careers. 14+ years in the trades since and I never looked back, I only wish I hadn't wasted that time and money in college
I graduated out of university with a chemical engineering degree, fortunately no debt, but as I work in automation, I'm realizing the need to also develop a lot of trade skills so I can apply the theory and design I've learned to these trade skills that can help output better products.
I think, in some capacity, there has to be a marriage between the theory you learn and the physical application and that's often lost in some forms of higher education.
Welding/metal fabrication has afforded me everything I have. I was hired by a company full time between my first and second year of school, dropped to part time to finish my second year, and finished my second year completely debt free.
I couldn’t land a job in web design. Never made over $28k in my life till joining a trade. Currently climbing towers installing 5G equipment. Best decision of my life. First year of work as an associate I made $68k.
Hey that’s great my guy! I’m a masters student in engineering who started in the trades for cnc machine programming. Can’t say I agree with prageru on most things but I do think having trades experience or at least some classes or at least one for life skills is essential. Whether it be home ec, manufacturing, autos, nursing, welding, etc. . It’s just all so applied that our interests will sharpen our skills for the real world. If these skills find us a passion, then guess what? They can find a very nice stable job as yours! That job definitely takes some skill man and I’m glad you found your way in life!
Good for you my friend! Keep at it!
@@jackbauer408 *Prager U checks 99% of my boxes. But you disagree w/most of what they 'teach', eh? You must be a Leftist. lol*
@@andyroid5028 I’m mostly moderate. I call bs out on both sides. But I’m slightly right in the grand scheme
When I was in high school, they had a list on the wall of all the kids that went to college, but nothing about anyone going to trade school or joining the military.
In protest of their vapid incognizance, no tradesman should show up to their houses for anything. Maybe if they're left alone naked and in the cold, we'll get some respect from them.
That’s unfortunate. Where I went, they did at least display the names of the kids who enlisted in the military. But trade school is nothing to be sneezed at. I did go to college but then again I KNOW it’s not the only worthwhile path. Like I always put it, I went to college because you do not WANT me building or repairing your stuff…the phrase “danger to self and others” is very much applicable!!! 🤣🤣🤣
@@nerysghemor5781 I'm pointing out the irony of how the left likes to talk big about a proletariat revolt until they find out that they themselves are the bourgeoisie that could find themselves in a gulag chopping rocks. That's what happens when one divorces oneself from reality.
@@michaelwolf7894 Haha, OUCH!! XD
@@nerysghemor5781 My voke/tech HS actually pushed the kids to pursue college work...I don’t think this should’ve happened.
@@CatholicTraditional Seems like that would defeat the purpose in most cases.
I realized this back in 1988 when I graduated high school. I saw all my classmates going off to college and getting into large debts. I bounced around at different trade jobs then landed in a factory for 7 years. Sad to say that it took me that long to get tired of factory work, which is good for some. I quit that job and started trade school for HVAC and have not looked back. That path has given me more knowledge than I could have ever imagined. Not only in the HVAC field but in logistics, warehousing, management, and much more. More than 20 years later and I have never been without a job and I’ve lived from one end of the country to the other.
I made an essay in high school for the administration about how high schoolers are brain washed in thinking that college is the only way you can go. They didn’t like it at all mostly because it attacked them, every English teacher said it was a college rated essay. Now, I’m about to graduate from Rocky Mountain lineman school in Colorado Springs, Co. All I’m saying is this is such a true video. Pick up a wrench and go to work. Trades are wonderful jobs and they do pay a lot.
I just turned 40 years old. I’m a 12 year lawyer and a 5 year licensed and registered financial advisor with a major financial firm and my work makes me miserable! I am very seriously considering going to trade school. Since I was a little boy, I always LOVED working with my hands and still do every chance I get. Whether it’s building a massive pergola in my backyard, doing regular maintenance on my car and motorcycle, or just gardening at the house, I feel alive when I’m building, fixing or creating something. I was one of the generations (born in 1982) that was told I had to go to college/grad school or I’d never be successful and by the time I realized that was BS I was already done with school and working in jobs that made me absolutely miserable. I do my best every day to stay positive and still believe there is hope I will find my calling (soon I pray!).
In my less than humble opinion, every high-school ought to have a 'tech' track.
Exactly. they have this in almost every county in NJ.
It's 4 years of learning your chosen trade & mostly hands on with all their gear. My son just started in Welding at our county tech hs
I wish we would stop telling people to just go to school for anything including the trades.
If you are a parent, have a sit down with your kids and help them understand what skills they have or would be interested in trying to cultivate. When they get older, have another sit down and see what skills ended up sticking. Then based off of that, see what types of jobs you would use that skill or skills for that actually can pay the bills. Then see if you can have your kid shadow people doing the job, as well as see what options there are to get into said job.
If possible, avoid school and learn on the job from effective people. Not experienced people, effective people. I have met too many people who have 10 or 20 years of experience, but most of it is bad experience that they cultivated bad habits with. Also employers non-stop complain that they aren't learning what to do in school anyways so why go and waste time and money?
If you need a degree, know you're going to school to get a job, not party.
I get annoyed when people say just go to said school, especially for trades that they would never even consider for themselves or their kids.
I first went to trade school for welding. After getting my technical degree, I moved across the country to get a job building large structures for bridges, stadiums, even a va hospital. Of my graduation class, I was very lucky to get said job, especially at the wage I received just starting out. Most of my class couldn't even get started because a ton of trade jobs wanted people with some real experience for their entry positions but offering starting wages, not people they needed to train. They also didn't consider trade school worth anything or counting as some experience.
Most of the time in trade school we ran beads non-stop in different positions, on different types of metal, with the four main processes of welding. Our teachers were from the industry and after they did their time, then decided to teach. All very accomplished in the subjects they taught. Not like we only learned theory, it was literally 90 percent min. hands on learning running beads, plasma cutting, oxy/act cutting, carbon arc gouging, blueprint reading, and other activities directly related to the industry. We would even take our welds and test them in our metallurgy class.
Of my class that did get jobs, most of them got minimum wage or just barely over that, to mop the floor or other bs tasks with the promise they would get to learn what said company wants you to know. They accepted the job to "get their foot in the door" but It ended up being a massive waste of time. After a year or so of being strung along, sometimes jumping to different companies, they gave up and went back to uni for accounting, business, or other jobs that ended up yielding better results.
Is there good money in trades? Yes, but you need to talk to people who are actually making it, how to do it. Just like every other industry. But telling people to "just go to trade school" is doing the same as saying "just go to uni". We need to stop this and it would also be awesome if every job under the sun didn't need years of experience, school, or both to start out in. But we don't want to ever talk about that do we?
Thank you for writing this out.
@@stackpapereveryday5682 no problem. If you want to be in the trades, just be smart about. Also take care of your body because its the only one you got.
When did you go to school? That matters. Most of the people that used to learn welding in high school are old, dead, grandpa dinosaurs. Nowadays, a lot of people have moved on. There are many, many trades that will not stop needing people anytime soon. The demand for linemen and truck drivers is not slowing down, and trucking pay is going up. Plumbing and landscaping can also be good. One rule of thumb is to look for trades that are desperately hiring, and then, invest your time when your know that someone will scout you. Some of these things are regional. HVAC isn't as needed in places that run those systems less. Logging isn't needed where there aren't forests, etc. Trades are an extremely good decision, especially when you compare them to college. Also, trades teach transferable skills. A lineman usually gets a CDL in school. A machinist would have a field day working construction or could easily be a mechanic. Even if you couldn't market yourself to an employer or build your own business, you can at least fix your own car with a welding degree. You are not responsible for others' life choices. Only yours. If you got the degree and they didn't, you obviously know something they don't. They could have moved to a part of the country that needs more welders. There are many that always need welders. If they aren't willing to adjust their lives to meet financial goals and didn't plan a career to stay in place, what am I supposed to say? I'm sorry you are out of $1,000 for a 6-month degree. I understand that there are 1-year and 2-year welding degrees also, but most lazy, dumbasses stop at what is easiest.
@@miastrong151 Graduated my program in spring of 2014. Also I had a childhood friend who took my route a couple years later. Took him three years to finally find a shop to give him a chance. He was a better welder then I was just out of trade school.
I don't really know what programs your talking of for $1000. Mine was closer to $7k for a 2 semester program( or 1 year) and the others I talked about that had trouble starting in the industry graduated in the same program I did. The ones that sucked didn't make it to 2nd semester because our course work was on quality, not participation.
Regarding area, I agree you need to move sometimes. The problem is the areas my classmates went to stated they were hiring welders all the time, just not new welders straight out of trade school to actually weld. It seemed like they were finding a ton of fresh people to just use for the tasks they didn't want to do for low pay. Again like I said, they strung my classmates along with low pay doing bs tasks to get their foot in the door with the promise to get them in and trained. When rubber met the road though, they never had the time to train them and pushed it off until my classmates quit to try somewhere else with same results.
What I was trying to say is be smart and don't tell people to just go to a school, even trade school. Find out what you like and figure out how to effectively get in where the money is. I've met too many people get screwed following the "just go to school" advice. Even in the trades.
@@miastrong151 I can easily vouch for your comment " A machinist would have a field day working construction or could easily be a mechanic."
Vast majority of my tools are for mechanical work.
This is one of my favourite documentaries from Prager U. We have a same issue here in the UK as we're not teaching enough people trades and skills for the future. Don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with going to University but it's not for everyone.
I got through college without debt, thankfully. But boy, do I wish I could've had shop class and do more of these trades myself than hire a tradesman.
Don't need trade schools, just one on one tutoring from retired tradesmen that hold recogniton in a craft. Pass it down like they used to do, one apprentice to one journeyman or master. Anything more gets corrupt politicians and laundered money involved.
Some people may not encounter that one person who teaches them.
how you going to regulate that "tutoring"...
@@Sheepdog1314 Bureaucratic mindset. Free yourself from that way of thinking
I have encountered skilled construction trade people who began learning in a formal setting like a trade school, & skilled people who had a tutor type person or were able to learn by themselves. I watched a man pass his pipe welding test who had learned by watching UA-cam videos.
@@jefferynelson Parents would have to do their part in locating and financial support. Internet would work for the info exchange. Travel may be necessary for either the tutor or pupil.
I wish I had seen this video when I was young. After a lifetime of bumbling through factory work and other unskilled jobs, I could have gotten some technical training and started making a decent living after getting certified. I bought into the college lie and wound up wasting time and money.
I wish I had gone to trade school. I was duped into going to college and let down by advisors and even my parents a little bit by letting me go to university for video production (sounded like fun but very limited real world opportunities). I now work manufacturing and it's awesome. Good pay, good benefits, endless high technology and old-school tricks. I was bored at first as an operator but moved into Engineering and Quality and it's great. I should have gone to trade school or college for Engineering.
Schools that focus on trades is a great thing and very needful.
I have a friend who said that he wanted to go to college so he could get a better education. I advised him the following:
"Unless you are wanting to get a job that requires a college degree as a prerequisite/requirement, save your time and money. Education can be obtained from many other sources, and they almost always cost a lot less and can be done on your own schedule." I personally am going to college for that very reason as I prepare for a new career. I about gagged when I saw tuition increase 300%+ in the span of 12 years.
Been welding a long time, and Chloe's story has similarities to my own.
Very entertained by this, thanks Mike Rowe and PragerU!
By no means is this hate, but I'm hoping you can answer a question that been on my mind. When the claim is made "trades make six figures" how is that broken down? Sure, the most experienced and expert trades person can make handsome pay. But I wonder if that "six figure salary" includes benefits, perks, retirement etc. On top of that, I feel like most trades work boat loads of overtime hours thus increasing their wage 1.5x, 2x and so on. Do you have any insight?
Not all trades are dirty. I’m a hairdresser and I love my trade. 💕
Hello Kim, for how long have you been working as a hairdresser?
@@ruthcardel5737 since 1996 in the industry and 1997 as a cosmetologist. I did take a sabbatical to raise and homeschool my sons. It was daunting to re enter the workforce in my profession but after 1 year working for others and catching up with my industry through continuous Ed, I opened my own studio. I’ve been successful, running in the black after just another year. This year makes 5 years in my studio.
@@kimfernandez330 Wonderful mother!
I grew up on a farm in Maine, joined the Navy in electronics, got out and got hired by a Naval shipyard as a weldor. My dad set the bar high with an eighth grade education and worked hard every day. I retired in 2014 debt free.
Awesome stuff!!! I was working as an electronic engineer when my mum got cervical cancer. Long story short she passed away and I could not go back to work so I found a job in budgeting part-time BUT oh man I loved it. To be honest helping people was my true vocation I ended up finding this job thanks to my mum!!! Thankyou MUM!!!
Every young person needs to watch this before they consider college.
First I went to college but realized it was a waste of time and money. Over my careers I went to two different trade schools. Made lots of money. Each trade school I paid off within a year. It was pretty much Happy Days.
There was a great Apprenticeship Program in the State of Virginia that I hope is still viable. Schools need to have strong reading & Math programs as tradesmen are highly intelligent with great skills.
Hey that’s great man! I actually kinda did the opposite lol. I started in the trades/ community college cause I didn’t know what I wanted to do. But I went for a cnc machining trades degree and kinda realized I had more potential. The experience I got from it though was uncanny. I learned all the fun stuff and how to use the “big boy toys”. Now I’m a graduate research student with a co-op to a big engineering company. Whenever I’m bored there I like to stroll down to the manufacturing guy because I know what he’s doing and talking about and like to give my input.
I mean...sure?? Trade school isn't for everyone just like college isn't for everyone. Idk why the right has this super harsh agenda against colleges 🤷
@@sabrinamaric4207 Wow, I'd say it seems like you may be overreacting to an individuals' preference in their career decision. I respect your preference for University, and there's no need for anyone to be overly sensitive to anothers' preference. Perhaps you hold a bit of prejudice towards people on the 'right'. Good luck.
@@jamesa3009 I literally just don't understand why the right has this super bad opinion of college like it's a competition?? Trade schools and university are for completely different things. One isn't "worse" or "better" than the other.
Like...right I'm going to school for chemistry. I wanna be a research chemist. I can't get the skills I need in trade school. I can't just like find an apprenticeahip for chemistry lol.
But someone wants to be a plumber or an electrical engineer? Yeah you need a trade school for that. College wouldn't be half as beneficial.
So like I said, I'm just not sure why the right has a seething agenda against university, when trade school isn't right for everyone either 🤷
I did go to college, but I did two degrees (business and Spanish language) and an MBA that did eventually become useful. BUT, no one looked at me to do those kinds of jobs until I proved my work ethic in a skilled retail job at a print shop. I worked hard even though I was horribly mismatched to the environment, and eventually got where I transferred successfully to corporate. College was right for me (you do NOT want me trying to fix anything or doing jobs where lives are riding on my coordination or mechanical skills), but I hate how it’s pushed as a one size fits all thing, and I hate even MORE how it’s become an indoctrination camp. Add in the debts so many people wind up with for this “privilege” (something that THANK GOD did not happen to me…I had no student debt), and yeah, I am not pleased at all with the way things have gone.
I spent ten years at university and earned three degrees. Sadly, I can honestly say, with every fibre of my being, that there was not one moment that I enjoyed. In fact, it made me clinically depressed and it cost me my relationship with the love of my life.
This great short documentary has helped me decide to not make the same mistake again for the next decade of my life, so - at 29 years of age - I am going to start a mature age apprenticeship in building and construction in 2022!
Many sincere thanks to Prager University, Ms Hudson, Mr Rowe, and Mr Kiyosaki, all the way from little old Tasmania, Australia 😌
*29 is NOT old, mate (even for trade school). Trust me when I say that! BTW, good luck!*
What was wrong with uni mate?
@@andyroid5028 - thank you for the kind words, it is much appreciated! 😌
Vocational education is a great way to uplift people who the school system failed, the focus on practical skills and experience make learning easier and motivating.
In my home country these schools are often directly connected to a local business so wealth creation happens already during the education and the company is providing a security for a future job
As long as the graduates of vocational schools can get jobs after graduation, they’ll be ok.
I'll say one positive of growing up poor is that it was always understood that I probably wouldn't go to college and so trade schools were definitely promoted in my home. I got two medical assistant licenses and have worked in nursing homes and group home and had some of the most meaning moments in my life through that. Plus I had a wonderful father who was a tile setter for the same man his entire life and I respected him alot so I understood the value of tradesmen
Love this! I wish I had this kind of advice. My parents jammed getting a “college education” in me and i choose accounting. Boy, that’s a hard field to get starting in. I also learned a trade (painting) from my own father and that has come in handy. I think everyone needs to learn a trade and pursue both.
Something I have never understood (well actually there are many many things). Why you NEED a 4 year degree to be in management?
More episodes on these topics would be great. I love these short documentaries and they are an amazing addition to the homeschool day! Short, fun, and educational!
These short documentaries have been fantastic! They've done a great job of tackling issues by providing viewers with an appropriate balance of thought-provoking statistics and engaging personal stories.
Please keep 'em coming!
I went to/graduated from a trade school which IBM collaberated with as far as the curriculum goes. The local "University" responded to IBM with, "You wanna dictate to US what knowledge/skills our graduates should have?! SNAP! Oh no you Dih'unt!"
I went on to work for IBM on one of the most important projects ever undertaken by humanity. Then I withdrew from the workforce at the age of 31 as by that time I'd made/saved enough money to be set for life. (And payed back my student loans for the trade school...)
I'm 62 now so that means I've been "retired" for 31 years. Going wherever I wanna go. Staying there for as long as I want. Doing whatever I want and for as long as I want to do it. Earning the freedom to do this was the best thing I ever did in my life.
Not sure if I'd even be out of debt by now if I'd gone the university route. (O_o)
I live in Australia, and we have exactly the same problem.
Why? If a person can live in Australia, why won't they climb a utility pole or play with fire? Is the media trying to turn everyone in your country gay, as well?
@@miastrong151 The trouble has been that the politicians, the school teachers and many workplaces have encouraged pupils to stay at school till the end of Year 12, and made them feel that if they don't go to university, they will be second rate citizens. The Establishment has looked down on trades and technical courses and shown academic snobbery towards tradespeople. Totally insulting to such valuable and essential people in society.
Many in the trades get experience then go on to start small businesses. That should also be a selling point for these schools to emphasize.
“Many” as in VERY FEW.
@@mattsnow4116 Many don't want to be the boss or have the responsibility. They will willingly choose less money if they are paid "enough". Just because not everyone is doing it, it doesn't mean that there isn't a greater need for more to get their start.
@@miastrong151 obviously this is true, I never stated anything to the contrary.
I took electric shop in high school but it wasn't what I wanted to do turned out. I worked at restaurants as a short order cook for some time. Pay wasn't so good but I enjoyed the work. Went to community college and got into auto body and paint. Made pretty good pay but still something missing. Learned I had a talent for airbrushing and worked for myself. Made pretty good pay and enjoyed it. But always thought I'd like to drive the big rigs, so went back to the community college and did that till I retired. No way I could have tried several different jobs if I'd had to borrowed a lot of money each time and wouldn't have had enough years to get the pieces of paper. There's a place for many different skilled people, even if they are a bit of a rolling stone. Your video was very good and many more should see it. The one size fits all just doesn't work.
I hold five college and university degrees, including post graduate degrees, and I have worked in the fields in which I studied. I'm now retired. The best advice I could give to a young person today is, "Learn a trade." I'm tired of references to people not wanting to do "menial" jobs. What job is less prestigious and requires fewer skills than being unemployed does?
Even in Junior college. Instructors would brag about how if you get a degree "you can write your own ticket"."you can tell these companies what they're going to pay you". What they don't tell you is that is completely dependent on the kind of degree you have.
I've always pushed trade schools. When I graduated 40 plus years ago all my friends went to college, when they got out I was making double what they could get hired for. Plus the company paid tuition aid. Never understood the push for families sending to kids to go party. Which is 80% of them.
As a water professional, there is a ton of great work in utilities! Get your Water Distribution, Water Treatment, and/or Collection certifications. Every city and county needs drinking water, water treatment, and sewage.
Most states start ppl out at 45-55k, with full benefits, for a high school diploma and a pretty easy one or two certifications.
Graduated HS in the mid 80's, there were little to no trades jobs in the upper Midwest. So I went to college and became a vocational education teacher where I teach automotive, auto body, and welding. I do not push my students to go one way or the other, that is an individual choice. I do send them out the door with great foundational skills and many of my students do quite well in the trades. Either as an apprentice or from a trade school. I am very proud of them. Lastly, it has been a battle for me to keep the programs alive for 29 years and I am sick of how administration and the free public education system looks down on all us involved in this area. Funny thing, just talked to a former student, 19 years old, he started this week as a TIg/Stick pipe welder making more than the principal who looks down on us. Can't wait to get out and do my PDR, welding, and painting in my shop doing what I love to do and make good money doing it too and no longer be around hypocrites in the education system! Great video and might use it in class to do more critical thinking and awareness.
Graduated from a trade school in 1981. 40 years later I've only been unemployed when I wanted to be.
That’s another reason why I want to go back to trade school and pay for it myself. Have gotten out of debt and over the last five months I have saved more than 5000 dollars in doing so.
I completely agree with this video. Hated my first two semesters of college in CA, MOSTLY because how POORLY it was run (expensive, no parking, extremely hard to get academic classes). Pursued my passion of cars and became a mechanic. Used my experience from tire shops to get hired for tires at the Mercedes dealer. Helped techs (free education) when tires were slow. The dealer later began sending me to factory training. Worked for Benz 4yrs (2 as a line tech) but hated the business model. Left to work on fork lifts and enjoyed it for 8-9yrs. Then when my first child was born I started my own business in computers from the knowledge Iearned from it being a hobby. I am under 40yo. Been living the American dream all my life. So much opportunity.
Mr Rowe made only a passing reference to his singing. In fact he was a talented opera singer but choose a career path more to his liking and with a far higher probability of success.
My education is about an 8th grade level. Not even Popeyes or Burger King would hire me 17 years ago. First job paid $230/week doing deliveries all day long for a major furniture/mattress retailer. In '09 I got an opportunity to learn how to repair furniture and get paid while doing so. Since then it's been an upward mobility in my income to where I'm at today.
My College debt: $0.
My annual salary: $80k+
I love America 🇺🇸
Fantastic! This was amazing. I can’t wait to show it to my boys and share it with everyone!
I’m in a trade and it’s fantastic money and benefits. I get a pension plus retirement. Purchased rental properties because my wife and I had no debt. It’s wonderful. Invest everything you can, and retire wealthy. Learn the tax code. The earlier you start the more you’re rewarded.
I wish I knew all this when I was in high school. Mike Rowe is so right. We’ve got to change our thinking.
What a great video! ❤️🥰
I took the path of a HVAC Technician in trade school and I love having no debt. I had no mechanical skills before school except for being able to build a computer. I can now fix basically anything electrical, I am going to move on from residential into commercial/industrial.
I'm looking into the 5-year Union program even though I hate that they take so much money out of our paychecks they offer the best education in my field.
I have multiple engineering degrees, but I am going back to school for trade skills because they are so useful and versatile.
Are you doing a community college program to learn a trade/trades?
I had a family friend / counselor tell me about this program. I explained my passion to teach others and young people trades. I shared a story about my son and a program that may not stay funded for him? We don’t know. But this is an amazing thing I did not know Mike Rowe was involved in. I am not surprised, but I am really inspired. My family hopes to see this program do well and possibly help our own family eventually. It’s a great goal and better than traditional college for my son. Very thankful to watch this video. Thanks to the team that made this happen.
Thank You Prague University For This Informative Video.
Wish I would have went trade school instead of college
My community College has a welding class. And im planning on taking it. So i can start my own welding business.
She's like a real life Battlestar Galactica character. I'm sharing this with my three daugthers.
The problem is that people don’t want to pay skilled workers. A mechanic still goes to school for several years to be a car doctor, and he has to buy a 100k in tools. But then shops only want to pay him $20hr with no retirement or benefits. Or a 60 year old plumber belly crawling through sewage under a house to fix a broken pipe. Only to make like $100 bucks. Having to still be doing this at his age because his employer doesn’t pay into a retirement and the plumber trying to live off 20hr didn’t have enough to invest. The negatives keep on going. I say this as a blue collar worker that has tried many of these trades in my life. Yes they can be okay at a younger age, but the long term is not there. Now that I’m getting older and wore out, I’m seeing my fellow white collar friends retiring comfortably. While I have nothing but a tired broken body with no retirement in sight.
I've been working on beginning a trade school for years - trades are recession proof; I've never been without a job and mostly self employed
I went to college in the 90's, but times have changed and college is WAY more expensive now and starting salaries for most degrees haven't kept pace. Unless you go into business, technology, medical, engineering, or law, you are much better off learning a trade instead.
This is my plan. Going into the trades. Its a way better option than college.
You won't have to worry about finding a job when you finish either. Best of luck!
Chloe and Mike, I love what y'all are saying! Mike, hopefully you words resonate for generations. Chloe, you are a shining example for many but I want to see some of those beads! Show off the some more of your work when you can.
I did a year and a half of architecture in college, dropped out became a truck driver and drive local, best decision of my life. I never got into student loans and I’m making money and a lot. My dad is a trucker and I love it to it’s core, the truckers today have changed and trucking has changed a bit vs the good old Smokey and the bandit days, but still absolutely love it. I can work 8-5, or longer if I want to, I drive a big diesel truck and do what I want every day. I never have someone constantly watching my every move, other than the work that I have to do I’m my own boss on time and when and where I choose to stop. I go home and enjoy my evening, no homework and weekends. I buy whatever I want, college I was always worried about going places because I had no money, now I always have plenty. I’m about to buy a house and a semi truck. My parents pushed me to go to college but I choose not to and now they are happy I choose not to. I have learned things from a lot of successful people in my life and rich people. Biggest thing is do what you want, even if that’s going to college to become a doctor. I always loved trucking and I’m happy to do it everyday.
Im so glad my community College has a welding class and im going to take it so i can start a my own welding business.
Hands that keep the world turning ❤
This is an awesome documentary and a great direction for PragerU. I loved it. Chloe rules.
This is how you change culture! Great content and real stories with latest technology and video editing skills. Good job prager! A multi episode would be good.
I wish I could turn back the hands of time, so I could have followed my true calling. I worked in film and TV, but I only have images to mark the passage of time…
But I used to build. Those buildings are still there. Now that I am retired, I have turned all my attention to what I love, building. Now, I am happy and in demand. I have been asked to interview for no less than 6 jobs in this last week, and I can work to my heart’s content. I would have been wealthy in my life and in my life if I had not listened to all the other people telling me that my life was second rate when I was making loads of money and was happy to get up and go to work every damn day!
My advice? Do what you love to do and don’t let the masses tell you what is valuable! If you want to warm with your hands and your mind, follow that! Get the RIGHT education. Learn every day and never sell yourself short. YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!
Love it, but too short 😅😂 I wanted more of it, specially now considering the mandates and stuff. You guys had I'm wondering if I can learn something and earn a bit throught it, seeing as my BA degree is rotting away due to the vax. Don't get me wrong. I love my work as a teacher, but with the mandates in place, what else am I gonna do? Gotta step up the game I guess 🤷🏻♀️
Keep up the good work you guys!!! And thanks for the amazing documentary!!
This is so good! I will be sharing with the younger people I know with hopes they tune in!
I am a plumbing wholesaler. I can tell you in 10 years you can be a master plumber, electrician, or a HVAC guy and instead of racking up 100,000 plus in school debt or you can make 2 to 3 times that and make more money in less time. I know plumbers with way more money than doctors. Hell most of those you can get your master and run your own company and never have to get dirty again.
In my profession I have had trades people clients who earned like doctors, even specialists.
@@jacklucas7265 yep I know a Plumer who has a helicopter. I use to work for one that had a 1100 acre ranch and a beach house all paid for. The idea that the only way you can make great money is having to go to college is a lie. A business degree from a community College is the only thing I recommend to younger people and thats optional.
What's even better is apprenticing with someone in the trade. You can learn a lot more in a lot less time.
Outstanding educational documentary, PragerU!!! Invaluable for young people, today. I wish this was available 25 years ago when I was in high school.
Absolutely awesome- thank you, Mike Rowe, Prager U and all those featured in this documentary. America is made better by each of you 🇺🇸 ❤️
This was an incredible and very important video to watch thank you!
I wish someone had given me this option when I was graduating high school, but it was all about how I have to go to college. I like the career path I took, but I still wish I had considered learning a trade.
Absolutely Stellar! Thank you PragerU.
I graduated HS in 1989. My father dies my 11th grade year and I lived, mostly, on my own to finish HS. I had a few coaches and teachers look out for me and get me through. Unfortunately, a lot of that help was getting me accepted to a D1 state school and showed me how to finance it. In that aspect, I had no one looking out for me and a mountain of debt followed.
Amazing story. I've been an automotive technician my whole professional career. It's hard work but the money is good and you have a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.
At this point unless you want to go into a select few careers, 4 year college is a waste of money. Save your money and your mind and go to a trade school or just enter the work force.
Excellent piece of production, excellent people, and an excellent message! Well done!
College is still good for engineering. In about a year I’ll be alternating between taking classes and doing paid internships. I can get a degree, experience and come out with little debt
My daughter just got her Associates in Welding after being disappointed in her Bachelor’s in Economics. It was a ridiculous amount of money with little return.
She’s loving her new career.
I also got an A.S. in Welding and I'm getting nothing but radio silence. If I do get a response, it's only about how I lack "experience" and I need certs/licenses as well. It makes me regret getting it in the first place.
@@eatright909Arrange a meeting with your instructors. They will know of some leads.
Also, ask the instructors if you can visit to keep up your skills. Offer to help them out. You gotta look hungry.
Have someone check your resume, also.
It’s all about getting that first job. Get your foot in the door. You can do it.
Incredible show, very inspiring and oh boy I love Arc Angel an Mike Rowe.
That skeet shooting at the start was a great touch!
I paid for my college as a welder. The Arc Angel logo was brilliant! Go get em kiddo!
This is one of the best videos ever of PragerU.
About 30 years ago, going into a trade was looked down on - it was all about college/university and financial markets, and being a lawyer. Now we are paying the price in a lack of skilled workers in trades becuase they are mostly retired (or dead) and we have lost huge amounts of skills - and you pay for it when you have a plumber or sparky come and fix something for you. All my daughters' friends whose parents were a tradie all lived in very nice houses, thank you.