Looking for options for kids who want to skip college?
So many times, we assume kids are heading to college after high school. When Natali graduated, I quickly grew sick of the question “Where is she going to college?” She was headed to college but I hate that people automatically assume that’s the next step in life.
In many cases traditional college has become a long term financial risk, with the skyrocketing costs. Most students don’t realize the true cost of a degree. It requires lots of time, energey and money. Lots of students end up spinnign their wheels for 4 years, with mortgage size student loans. And generally, these kids don’t have a good plan to pay off that debt.
Many college degrees easily end up as wall decorations. These sound fun and probably are while obtaining them, but the percentage of students turning them into profitable lifelong careers is dropping like flies
I never pushed my kids to attend college. In fact, I’m a pretty firm believer that college is a waste of time and money, unless you go for something that requires a degree. Teachers, doctors, EMTs, engineers and other degrees are obviously worth their weight. But a degree in general studies, English or medical coding often won’t help a student much in the long run.
As I’ve started working on plans for Emersyn’s sophomore year, I’ve realized she’s likely not headed to college. So I’ve been researching some great alternatives that pay well and will allow her to live comfortably for the rest of her life.
5 Options for the Kids Who Want to Skip College
Take a “gap year” to build your skills:
After wrapping up 13 years of school, kids often feel pressured to jump into the workforce before they’re ready. Instead of rushing to pick a career, take some time to explore the world around you.
Find things that interest you.
Talk to people from all places and different walks of life.
Pay close attention to the jobs of people you consider “successful.”
Dabble in things that you might be interested in.
It’s the perfect time to reflect on what you envision for the rest of your life.
Make money with a hobby:
So many times, we get stuck in jobs that we hate. But why not encourage your kids to make money through their hobbies? Whether they sell their artwork, play piano at parties or build custom guitars, the ideas are endless!
Emersyn LOVES goats so she breeds them each year and sells the babies! Last spring alone, she sold 18 baby goats and made over $4,000! She’s discovered that she can sell goats to fund her horse habit. 😉
Start a business:
Investing your money in a small company is a great way for kids to jump into the “real world.” Whether they want to mow lawns, offer housekeeping services or open a dance studio, the possibilities are endless.
Often, you can start a business with just minimal investment. You can buy a trailer and haul things for people. Buy a set of clippers and offer dog grooming services. Buy some clothing racks and vintage clothes and start a resell business.
While you may have to take out a loan to get started, it’ll likely still be much less than you would pay for student loans.
Take online classes:
So many skills can be learned online, instead of on college campuses. Years ago, I wanted to take a photography course so I could take our own family photos. I looked into our local community college but it was going to cost nearly $800 for one semester! Instead, I found an online photography course that catered to DIY family photos. I was able to learn the basics for just a fraction of the cost! Plus I got lifetime access to the course.
Learn a trade:
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that skilled laborers are vital to our community. When offices shut down, construction workers, plumbers and framers continued to show up on the job sites. When concerts were cancelled, welders continued to work. When grocery stores sent their workers home, farmers continued to farm.
Trades are invaluable to our society. They are the backbone of our economy and the reason our workforce is able to keep on keepin’ on.
But it’s important to look for trades outside of the norm. Everyone knows we need electricians and mechanics, there are plenty of trades that don’t get as much attention.
Automatic door technicians are one of the most overlooked trades.
Hospitals, airports, shopping centers, Walgreens, CVS, Target, Walmart and nearly every public building you use has automatic doors! These doors are the first thing a customer experiences when they enter the store so companies know they need to be in perfect working order. Because of this, they are always in need of service!
Once this skill is mastered, it’s GOLD in the student’s pocket!
It certainly is not a career path for everyone, but it is an industry the nation can not live without.
All About Bruce Cloney’s Door Institution
Bruce Cloney’s Door Institution equips students with the confidence needed to not only begin a career as a door repair technician but to downright knock their employers socks off!
The course isn’t fancy but it teaches everything you need to know to repair and troubleshoot the 3 most common types of automatic doors!
With over 60 hours of video training and over 55 self-quizzes, students will be provided with the exact information that would take a decade to learn on the job! Students will be years ahead of their competitors and will earn a hefty paycheck from the get-go. (A quick search on Indeed showed that folks in my area are hiring automatic door technicians with a starting pay of $38/hour! That’s a pretty good income for someone fresh out of high school!)
The automatic door industry will easily allow your to work 55-60 hours a week, all year long. It’s a great way to work with your hands to make a living that will support a family. The job is in high demand and the pay is great! You can live anywhere in the country and your job will still be in high-demand.
Students can work at their own pace to complete the curriculum.
By the time they finish, they should be confident enough to walk into an employers office and really knock their socks off with the knowledge they learned in this course.
The program contains no fluff or frills. It’s straightforward video training that is easy to follow. It includes challenging self quizzes following each of the 57 video modules.
The course is taught by an Bruce Cloney, who has over 32 years of actual field service experience servicing automatic doors. It gives each student a one-on-one learning experience, while allowing them to move at their own pace.
After they complete the course, they will have permanent access to review videos. This will help keep them sharp down the road.
Check out the 3 free preview videos!
If you’re looking for a hands-on trade that will provide a good life for your student, you can’t miss Bruce Cloney Door Institute.
