Or Not to College? That is the Question (Part 2).

So... Your child has decided not to go to college. Although it is concerning, it is not the end of the world. There are a large number of highly lucrative jobs that do not require a college education. These can be roughly broken down into Crafts or Trades. For the sake of argument, I have lumped Arts into Crafts. In each case, the key to success is an honest love of the work.

Please understand that I have made the assumption that your child is and adult or nearly. If not, then the final part of this post is unadvisable.

If your child loves something, be it writing or blacksmithing, do not try to steer them away from it. Encourage them to find out as much about it as possible. Most regions in the United States have people actively pursuing crafts and trades. Many of these are willing to share their knowledge with new people. In some cases, artisans or trades people have formalized apprenticeship programs. Spend time finding one that your child likes and enroll him or her in the program.

Some apprenticeship programs include a section on how to run a small business. If yours does not, look for another one. The reason for this is that, if your child is not interested in going to college, he or she is not likely to be willing to take a course in starting and running a business. If this is not an option, take your child to seminars run by the Small Business Administration in your area.

Careers that do not require a degree include:

Crafts:

1. Writing
2. Painting and other visual arts
3. Ceramics
4. Embroidery
5. Beadwork
6. Woodcarving
7. Weaving
8. Spinning
9. Jeweler
10. Glassblower (Decorative and Scientific)

Generally, practitioners of these crafts, and many others, can be found at the State or County fair. They will be small business owners or work in a shop owned by someone else. Sometimes, they will work out of their homes or attached buildings. These people may or may not have formalized apprenticeships. They are usually more than willing to spread the joy that they find in their craft. Befriend these people. They are invaluable.

Some of these crafts are considered to be 'dying'. Developing a love of a dying art or craft and learning to do it well will almost guarantee a good living.

Trades:

1. Blacksmithing
2. Carpentry
3. Construction Work (With all of the various sub-categories)
4. Tailoring
5. Landscaping
6. Farming
7. Theatre (Acting, Set Construction, Lighting, etc...)
8. Film (Acting, Costuming, Directing, etc.)
9. Restaurant Work (Management, Wait Staff, Host, etc...
10. Hotel Work (Management, Catering, Meetings Consultant, Concierge, Desk Clerk, Maintenance, etc...)
11. Real Estate (Thanks to Helenathegreat. Forgot about this one.)

While neither of these lists is exhaustive, they should give you ideas about what is possible. The truth is that, while an advanced degree is still a very desirable thing, it is not required to live a perfectly happy and productive life.

Now that you have an idea about what is available, the trick will be to get your child to choose one. This will either be easy or the hardest thing that you have ever done. In either case, it begins with talking to your child. I am going to make two assumptions about the situation, neither of which is necessarily the truth.

In the first assumption, your child has decided not to go to college because he or she has another interest. Excellent! Encourage it. Help him or her find training. Pay for it, if need be. In some cases, you will have to encourage your child to pick one to concentrate on now, with the understanding that more can be taken on later. And, yes, this is the easy one.

In the second scenario, your chlid has no interest in college, nor in anything else as far as you can tell. How you handle this will depend on the child's age and the reason behind his or her reticence, but generally speaking, you have only two options.

Expose your child to the various options available. Take him or her to expos, training fairs, etc. Meet with various artisans, crafters and trades people. Let your child talk to these people alone. Talk to the artisan and see if your child seemed at all inspired by what they are doing. If not, thank them and move on. See if your child shows any interest in what you have presented. If so, excellent. You might be in business.

If nothing works, and your child is an adult (18 or older), you are faced with the second option. Take your adult child to a shelter and drop him or her off. Let your child make his or her own way in life for a while. Keep in touch, however. Should your child decide that earning a living is a better option than living hand to mouth on the streets, see if he or she will allow you to help. If so, see above. If not, that is okay. There is a lot to be said for going it alone and living through it.

All of what has been presented is my opinion. I am not a psychologist, nor am I a medical professional. You must, of course, make your own decisions based upon what you know of your child and his or her mental and emotional state.

In the off chance that your child simply will not learn and sinks rather than swims, you have my utmost condolences. Just remember that you are not responsible for the decisions your adult child makes.