Different Paths to the Same Goal

Turning What You Love into What You Do
By Patrick O’Connor

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”  ~Benjamin Franklin

A major group entering the workforce at the initial stage of the career continuum is high school graduates. They enter the workforce directly or continue with additional education to prepare them. This segment looks at three graduates who are  launching their entry into the full-time workforce. This is the start of their journey to turn what they love into what they  do. Boomer readers with grandchildren in high school might want to pay close attention to the paths of these graduates. They can be a valuable resource for their grandchildren.

The Importance of Options
People will have 10-12 jobs in a career. Zigzagging is common, as are restarts and reboots. Jobs can disappear in a few clicks and industries are in constant change. Young people should develop a Road Less Traveled mindset which means to take control of their future. Their only security is their ability to stay current and marketable.

And the best-laid plans often change. For example, 30% of those entering four-year colleges graduate in four years. Where do the rest go? A few notable people who left college without graduating are Ralph Lauren, Jack Dorsey, Ty Warner, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Some high-profile people even left high school without graduating, including Bill Cosby, John Travolta, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise.

CTE Programs
Career Technical Education (CTE) programs are excellent preparation for graduating students to obtain career sustaining jobs. These are jobs that provide a salary/benefits package that can support  a family. CTE includes a wide assortment of programs, from culinary arts to skilled trades to biotechnology. The goals are to prepare students for entry into post-secondary programs which include two- or four-year colleges, apprenticeships, immediate workforce positions, military service or even entrepreneurship.

Three Different Paths with the Same Goal
Three CTE grads from Kent Roosevelt High School are featured in this segment. Their goal is to turn what they love into what they do, though each of their paths is different. Each is graduating on time, which is commendable considering that two years of their high school experience was interrupted by the Covid pandemic.  The path each has taken is described below.

Four-Year College Path
A common expectation for high school graduates is to attend college, usually at the four-year level, although 41% of all undergraduates are in two-year colleges. A broad college experience/education is good preparation for career and life because of the critical thinking, discipline and problem-solving qualities it develops. Also, specific career-related courses are often needed for certain jobs/professions.

Miles is finishing a two-year Programming and Software Development course. He is enrolled at Kent State University for fall, 2022 to study computer science. He is very focused and has gone to great lengths to ensure he is confident with his plans. He has worked hard to have grades, GPA and SAT scores high enough to be accepted into the honors college. His high school program offered dual credit, which includes taking 16 college credits (equivalent of one semester) into his freshman year. Upon graduation, he will be qualified for a wide variety of technology positions.

Enter Workforce with Apprenticeship Path
Brandon is a Senior in a two-year Construction Technologies Program. He completed a summer internship in 2021 and is now interning a second time in the telecom division (cell phone towers) of a local electric service company. To accept this internship ($18 per hour) he finished all coursework requirements in January 2022.

He is enrolling in the Akron Electricians Apprenticeship program. He will receive a salary bump of $25-$30 per hour during the program, which is paid for by his employer. At the end of the five-year program, he will receive the Journeyman’s card, a full benefits package and salary of $100,000-$125,00 annually.

Entering Full-Time Workforce Path
Olivia is completing a two-year cosmetology program. She will meet all requirements to pass the state cosmetology exam and become licensed. She has many options available after graduation. She can enter the workforce directly, earning as much as $75,000 per year. She also has the option to open her own salon one day (with additional education and credentialing).

She has only two classes to complete, so she leaves school mid-morning and works at a salon. She takes online classes to broaden her cosmetology background, specializing in nails, eyelashes, coloring and hair extensions. This increases her marketability and salary and sets her on a continuous learning path, which is essential in her field.

Olivia’s parents set up a college fund for her, but she decided to follow the cosmetology route instead and forego college. Her parents shifted her college money to support her in the specialized courses she is taking. The investment will have immediate and long-term benefits.

My June blog will examine how retired people turn what they love into what they do by following an Encore Retirement Lifestyle.