The False Debate between going to College and learning a Trade.

I have been listening to the on-going debate between the cost effectiveness of investing in a college education or pursuing a trade for quite a while. My roots are working class in terms of my father Gerassimos being a commercial flower grower, landscaper and maintenance mechanic. My mother Sophie was high school educated and a stay at home mother. I think that this discussion has a false premise and that this is not an either or proposition.

Growing up my dad had me doing a variety of tasks that related to our family making a bit of money and me also learning a work ethic. One Memorial Day in 1955 he had me hustling flowers in a roadside flower stand. I was 6 years old and who can resist a cute kid. I made $600 for our family, quite a bit of money for the time. I worked with my parents in the fields weeding, budding the asters, picking, watering and generally learning how to care for plants. When my dad shifted to being a landscaper, I edged, pruned, picked up lawn clippings and dog poop. From a young age until I was 25 years old I did a variety of jobs including parking attendant, language tutor (Greek Language at UCLA), cook, construction worker, book store lackey, and defense plant worker.

While none of these jobs were my ultimate goal, they all taught me how to function in the workplace, how to take instructions, to show up on time and to determine where best my skill set fit in any work environment. All the while I was pursuing an education, first working my way through UCLA securing a degree in Political Science and History and second getting a Master's in Regional and City Planning.

My father generally worked in non-union environments. At one point I was envious of people who had secured apprenticeships in the trades. I had a friend at UCLA who became a Curtain and Drapery expert at Warner Brothers, who made a good living and I believe retired there. I have a couple of nephews who are not well educated and I have thought that a career in welding or air conditioning could lead to a more productive life.

The point is that we have to gravitate to where our skill set lies. We need to encourage people to try different things. I have painted commercial buildings for my family, duplexes and my friends and my own home well into my 50's. I enjoy painting and find it relaxing from office work. I have a very large yard and love adding trees, plants and bushes to the environment. As a City Planner I pushed very hard for more landscaping in development. These activities were all a product of my early life and love of the work that my family exposed me to.

I have concluded therefore that this discussion is trivialized by the either or premise. Yes, the high cost of education should make one sensitive to the future use of the knowledge. Borrowing large sums of money for an Art History degree at Dartmouth may not be prudent. And yes, people like Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates know early on their destiny and can be successful drop-outs. But for the great mass of people it is important to cultivate those skills that you are truly interested in and pursue a goal.

I found college to be something of a paid vacation from the stresses of earning a living. I was investing in myself, but loved reading the Great Books and studying political science. When I graduated from college with a BA I realized that I needed an advanced degree to get a professional career. I picked City Planning, but have also been a business person, a City Manager and consultant. It is not a linear progression. During the Great Recession of 2009-2013 ( here in Nevada it went longer) I retooled and went back into the public sector after 12 years in the private sector. I have worked out of the area in Las Vegas, Fernley, Elko and Alberta, Canada.

My opinion is that people should learn the work ethic as soon as possible and that our children need to understand that there are a variety of occupations out there and that they should try as many as possible to see the pros and cons of every line of work. I love cooking, especially Greek Food, but decided that I love it as a hobby, not as an occupation.

The answer is that each person should sample as many activities as possible and cultivate those that are inspirational to them since we spend ungodly amounts of time working.