Maybe We've Been Thinking About Success All Wrong

I've been thinking a lot lately about the conversations I have with teenagers about their futures. You know the ones where we ask about college plans and career goals, and sometimes we can see that flicker of uncertainty in their eyes. What if I told you there's a beautiful path we might not be seeing?

A Story That's Quietly Unfolding

While we've all been focused on college admissions and SAT scores, something wonderful has been happening in trade schools across the country. Young people are discovering careers that light them up, working with their hands, solving real problems, and building things that matter. Enrollment in skilled trade programs has grown by 13% two years in a row, even as traditional college enrollment has dropped.

These aren't kids who "couldn't make it" in college. These are bright, capable young people who've found their calling in careers that offer something precious: immediate purpose and genuine job security.

Rethinking Old Stories

I understand the hesitation. Many of us grew up with the story that success meant a college degree, a white-collar job, and a certain kind of respectability. But what if that story was too narrow? What if we accidentally made our children feel like working with their hands was somehow less valuable than working behind a desk?

Today's skilled trades are nothing like what we might remember. The young electrician installing your neighbor's solar system is working with cutting-edge technology. The automotive technician diagnosing your car's computer systems has skills that would impress any IT professional. These are careers that blend technical expertise with real-world problem-solving in deeply satisfying ways.

The Gift of Financial Freedom

Here's something that might surprise you: while college graduates are starting their careers with an average of $37,000 in debt, trade school graduates often begin earning $40,000 to $80,000 a year with little to no debt burden.

But it's not just about the money, though financial peace of mind is a beautiful gift to give a young person. It's about starting adult life on solid ground, with skills that the world genuinely needs and values.

When Learning Comes Alive

Picture your teenager's face when they're doing something they love. Maybe it's when they're fixing something that's broken, or building something with their hands, or helping solve a practical problem. There's a special kind of joy that comes from seeing immediate results from your work.

Modern trade programs understand this. Students aren't just memorizing theories, they're:

• Creating with 3D printers and design software

• Working with the latest automotive technology

• Learning renewable energy systems that help protect our planet

• Using advanced medical technology to help heal people

• Building with innovative materials and smart construction methods

Learning becomes joyful when it connects to a real purpose.

A Gentle Question for Parents

I wonder if you'd consider something with me. What if success isn't about the prestige of the career, but about finding work that brings fulfillment, financial stability, and the chance to make a genuine difference?

Does your child seem to come alive when they're:

• Working on projects with their hands?

• Figuring out how things work?

• Helping fix problems in practical ways?

• Creating something tangible that they can be proud of?

These might be clues to a path that could bring them deep satisfaction.

The Courage to Choose Differently

It takes courage to consider a different path than the one everyone expects. But some of the most fulfilled people I know are those who chose careers that matched their true strengths and interests, rather than what they thought they "should" do.

Trade careers offer something increasingly rare: work that can't be outsourced, that serves real human needs, and that provides a sense of accomplishment at the end of each day. When your power goes out, when your plumbing needs repair, when your car breaks down, these are the people who restore comfort and safety to your life.

A Future Full of Possibility

The world is recognizing the value of skilled trades in new ways. Companies are partnering with trade schools, offering apprenticeships, and creating career paths that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Even the government is paying attention; February 2025 was declared Career and Technical Education Month.

Your child could be part of this renaissance, building a career that combines modern technology with timeless craftsmanship.

An Invitation to Wonder

What if we've been so focused on one definition of success that we've missed others? What if the path to a fulfilling life doesn't have to include four years of college and a mountain of debt? What if it could include learning skills that immediately matter, earning good money, and coming home each day knowing you've made a tangible difference?

I'm not suggesting college is wrong for everyone; it's wonderful for those called to it. But I am suggesting that we might want to open our hearts to other possibilities. Your child might thrive in ways you never imagined if given the chance to pursue what truly interests them.

A Closing Thought

The world needs people who can build, fix, heal, and create with their hands. It needs young people who aren't afraid of honest work and who find joy in solving real problems. Maybe, just maybe, your teenager could be one of them.

And maybe that wouldn't be settling for less, maybe it would be choosing something beautiful.

What matters most isn't the path our children take, but that they find work that honors their gifts and brings them joy. Sometimes the most unexpected paths lead to the most fulfilling destinations.