Tradespeople are able to make more than $70K within just a few years, while many careers that take a long time in school often don’t reach that level until a decade down the road. Yet, from the moment we step into high school, college is sold as the “grand plan.” Society treats it as the only legitimate path to success, and anyone who doesn’t follow it is subtly, sometimes overtly, shamed.
But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with trades school. Not everyone is built for college, and that’s okay. Why does the system act like it’s the only option for much of our lives?
Opportunities for trade education are often limited, even for students who do wish to explore alternatives. Hillsborough County had to build a brand-new facility just to give students proper access to technical- and trade-school programs. When announcing the new center in Plant City, HCPS explained that “students who struggled academically can find more success once they’re in a trade school setting.” Hands-on learning opens doors for people who might never thrive in a classroom and it produces skilled workers who make immediate, tangible impacts in the world.
Trade work isn’t just about the paycheck: it’s about creating, fixing, making, and improving. Every day, a plumber, welder, or electrician puts their mark on the world in some tangible way-once a building functions, once a home has been fixed, once a machine works as designed. Compare that with other jobs that are all screen time and all paperwork: sometimes, the “high-paying dream” can feel abstract, distant, and, honestly, boring. Trades give people pride in what they do.
Part of what bothers me is how society treats college as the only “real” path, ignoring the people who are hands-on thinkers, who learn by doing, or who excel in environments that can’t be replicated in a classroom. Without trades, modern life literally stops. The economy, infrastructure, healthcare facilities, homes rely on them. They are the backbone, and yet they are treated as if their work is less worthy.
Recently I visited a town in Tennessee with a construction-themed amusement park called “Dig N’ Zone.” At first it seemed ridiculous—kids driving tiny tractors and laying fake bricks—but then it hit me. How is this any different from a children’s museum like the Glazer downtown? Both get kids learning through doing. The only difference is that one celebrates hands-on work, and honestly, it’s an amazing concept. It made me realize that when you introduce trades without judgment, they’re exciting. The shame only shows up later, and that’s exactly the problem.
Personally, I do not plan on entering the trades, and that’s okay. But my respect for those who do is immense. Everybody cannot sit behind a desk. Some of the most vital work in society is being done by people who fix and create. That work deserves respect and recognition but most importantly, choice.
We need to stop glorifying college as the only path and start showing students that there are multiple routes to success. Trades deserve as much attention and funding as any college-prep track. The world would be better if students were taught that skills and hands-on expertise are just as valid—and often just as lucrative—as a degree.
