Teach Our Youth to Reach Higher

Imagine a 14 year old in middle school exploring universal learning courses through an innovative university, dreaming about being a teacher someday?

Or, visualize a 21 year old high school drop out with 2 kids, living in a rural community with a broken car, and sparce food to feed her kids. But she is excelling in a free high school for adults to earn her diploma and feed the kids.

Or, think about your 16 year old attending a career technical education (CTE) program in high school learning construction trades, and dreaming about following Grandfather's footsteps toward a registered apprenticeship program.

Or, conceptualize a 51 year old with only a high school diploma, limited work experience, and embarking on a solo journey to find a pathway to a career.

What do these individuals have in common? They, like you and I, were once youth. Which person do you conceptualize as the most likely to succeed? The answer is easy. Each and every one of us can be successful if we work harder to become a trailblazing nation of workforce development.

My grandson is the 14 year old aspiring to be the teacher. He will need much federal student aid to realize that dream. What if he earned as many college credits as possible as SOON as possible, and by the time he graduates high school, his state has a teacher registered apprenticeship program where he will learn and earn for a fraction of the tuition cost his cousin just paid?

I met the 21 year old and her kiddos at the local Goodwill Excel Center as she was recognized as a high school graduate. When asked what career she wanted, the lady said a hairdresser. I told her about a potential registered apprenticeship.

Lastly, I was the 51 year old.

In today’s global economy, let's encourage our youth to enjoy educational attainment and transferability of “power skills” learned through college coursework and CTE programs that could lead to registered apprenticeship.

It’s not too early for middle school students to start thinking about their future careers and learn how an apprenticeship can serve as a foundation for jumpstarting their careers. It is imperative we introduce middle school students, parents, and teachers to future careers through apprenticeships opportunities.

The future of workforce development in America depends on our pipeline of youth learners, however they learn and earn!