Any advice for a HS senior looking toward their future?
“Put some thought into and reflection and prayer into what your passions are and the things that drive you. Don’t be ashamed to pursue your path whatever the case may be. There are a lot of people who go to school and feel like they have to do something that a 4-year degree can activate for them and that’s not speaking into who they are all of the time. Not everyone’s a four-year person. There are a lot of other opportunities out there. Put actual thought and due diligence into what drives you, that’s important. Seek out mentors in your life, that are older, have gone through life and various experiences. Ask them what they did well what they wish they would’ve done. Get words of wisdom, whether that be from a big brother, foster parent, teacher, someone in the field or trade, doctor, or whoever. Find people that have been through challenging parts of life and talk to them about what that was like. It will give perspective about life and possibly not always being easy, but you can persevere and succeed if you put your mind to it and be passionate about it.”
Most Juniors and Seniors are thinking of post-high school plans and instantly think of college. This isn’t everyone’s desire though, yet they still go that path anyway. A huge lack of knowledge might be the culprit along with assumption of expectation from family or any other type of feeling. I’m here to tell you there’s MORE. There are things like jumping right into the workforce right after high school, which is wonderful! College or technical school are great opportunities! Military is another great choice for some! Last but not least, TRADES. Let’s talk about trades… not enough people know about them or have “an idea” of what they are or can provide. “A tradesman, skilled tradesman, skilled tradesperson or tradie refers to a worker who specializes in a particular occupation that requires work experience, on-the-job training, and often formal vocational education, but not a bachelor's degree.” (Wikipedia, 2020). Trades provide free on-the-job training, licensure and wonderful wages along with ample opportunity. This is a great option to take if you’d like to be debt free, simply because you won’t have student loans from taking this pathway. Too often, the trades are overlooked because they’re not a “coveted” degree. These take usually about 2-4 years depending on what licensure you’re going for, along with testing, knowledge of state RCW’s and WAC regulations.
Barron Heating offers exciting opportunities for learning a trade within their company. I’d like to introduce you to their newest addition, Barron Technical School. This is an amazing on-site opportunity that includes hands-on learning with equipment that provides various services to their customers. There’s classroom learning taught including financials (how to budget, etc.) as well as codes and regulations. The apprenticeship options include electrical, HVAC-refer tech, and plumbing. Brad Barron explained, “When it comes to community, awareness is huge and not enough time is given to the awareness of the trades.
There is a desperate need for more tradesmen and women because of the fact that a significant number of baby boomers are now retiring. For every 5 boomers retiring, one millennial or generation z are coming into the trades. There is a severe lack of trades people right now. I had a chance to identify a huge challenge and talked to John Barron and told him we need to do something that no one in the community is doing by taking a stand and trying to develop something that will enhance what already exists. There is BTC, but they turn out around 12-20 kids a year, which is not filling the trough completely and not overcoming the mathematical deficit we’re facing. My dad felt empowered through the school, he wanted to invest in paid apprenticeships, classroom learning, a lab facility, electrical lines, a generator and give a safe place for people to learn. The opportunity to be able to problem solve, work with managers not in someone’s home or business, while earning money and working/learning under a licensed journeyman, is pretty exciting.”
Not only is Barron Technical School a wonderful, free opportunity to advance into a career, but Barron also provides another great resource. The Dan L. Barron Trades Scholarship. Brad stated, “My Grandpa Dan founded Barron nearly fifty years ago with the goal to provide our community with quality service while supporting his employees with exceptional careers. To carry on his legacy, we’re on a mission to prove that a career in the skilled trades is a rewarding one. In his honor, the Barron Team has created the Dan L. Barron Trades Scholarship, which will provide opportunities to individuals looking to enter the HVAC, Electrical or Plumbing trades. Barron will provide two $5,000 scholarships to Bellingham Technical College: one to a current Barron employee or family member, and one to a community member.” Barron is on a mission to improve lives and not only those of families and their homes, but of those seeking further education as well.
