NOT ALL ARE BAD

[Whitwabit]

Have to tell you about my grandson .. He graduated from HS last week ..

About the age of 16 he became interested in cars and guns .. Bought himself his own shotgun when he turned 18 ..

On his own he applied to the junior college in town and then interviewed and got sponsored by the largest dealer in the area who has 15 dealerships .. .. He will begin the ICC GM ASEP Program which consist of working 8 weeks at a car dealership and being paid and then going to school for 8 weeks !! The course is for 2 1/2 years and when he finishes he will be a Certified GM Mechanic !!! And will be hired permanently at the dealership .. Or can go about anywhere and get a job ..

Him and two other buddies who graduated with him .. one is in a Ford program and one in a diesel program have dreams of starting a shop together after school is done ..

Sure hope they succeed !!

He such a great kid and we love him to death !! Him and friends are not like too many of the kids his age coming out of HS ..

 

[llowry61]

Great to see a young person have a plan ! Kudos to him and his pal.

 

[Whitwabit]

Him and the boys he runs around with are very good kids ..

we got 6 inches of snow and the schools were closed so they got shovels and went around shoveling elderly couples walks and drives that really shouldn't be doing it themselves .. He told me they were bored and too old to build snowmen so decided to do that .. really had to laugh at them .. I gave each car driver 10 bucks for gas since there were 3 car loads of them .. and 30 for pizza and drinks .. Couldn't think of a better way to spend my money ..

 

[BC38]

Great to hear about another young man with a plan.

My oldest graduated last year and is about to finish his first year of community college. He's working on getting all of the ASE certifications and working part time at a tire shop. When he's done with the program he wants to go into the Marine Corps as a motor pool mechanic.

There is a real shortage of people in the skilled trades. I expect my boy and your grandson will both be able to earn a great living doing something they love. Can't beat that!

 

[Whitwabit]

Great to hear about another young man with a plan.

My oldest graduated last year and is about to finish his first year of community college. He's working on getting all of the ASE certifications and working part time at a tire shop. When he's done with the program he wants to go into the Marine Corps as a motor pool mechanic.

There is a real shortage of people in the skilled trades. I expect my boy and your grandson will both be able to earn a great living doing something they love. Can't beat that!

Great for your child .. There is a severe shortage of mechanics in our area .. but the dealer ships who do sponsor a student have rigid requirements .. They asked for my grandsons drivers license and if he had any tickets in 3 plus years he has been driving and what they were .. And he doesn't have any and that was a big plus they told him .. 1 speeding ticket and the dealer would not have sponsor him ..

The ICC ( Illinois Central College ) ASEP classes only have between 8 and 12 student each new class year with 2 instructors so good hands on training .. Both instructors are GM Master mechanics .. and the college has the most modern equipment and GM just gave them a 2016 car last year and expect another this year as they have been given one every 2 years .. the program was started there in 2001 so this is the 18th class ..

Good luck to yours !!

 

[les.b]

I teach at a local community college, and there are some great programs available today. One for example, is co sponsored by the local power company. Students take some regular courses in English, math, and so on, plus they are taught by older, sometimes retired linemen. When they graduate they are guaranteed a job with the power company. There are many fine young folks in this program. This is just an example, but there are lots of great educational opportunities out there, and there are, despite what we see on tv all the time, lots of great young folks who are going to be sucessful and live good, productive lives.

Congratulations, whitwabit, on your grandson!! Sounds like a good kid with a good plan!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[Whitwabit]

I teach at a local community college, and there are some great programs available today. One for example, is co sponsored by the local power company. Students take some regular courses in English, math, and so on, plus they are taught by older, sometimes retired linemen. When they graduate they are guaranteed a job with the power company. There are many fine young folks in this program. This is just an example, but there are lots of great educational opportunities out there, and there are, despite what we see on tv all the time, lots of great young folks who are going to be sucessful and live good, productive lives.

Congratulations, whitwabit, on your grandson!! Sounds like a good kid with a good plan!!

Best Regards, Les

He will have an associate degree when finished and able to go on to a 4 year school if he wants too .. The ICC Junior College
has other programs also .. an electrical one and I believe plumbing also beside other automotive programs too ..

 

[kozmic]

We tend to categorize millennials as being ill-prepared for the real world, but the truth is there are plenty of success stories from our next generation of leaders. Both my sons were active in sports, student gov't. and community during high school. Their friends have all done well for themselves in college and in their jobs I'm proud of them all.

 

[raljr1]

I run a fabricating shop and we always have a hard time finding welders. If a young person wants to make a good living without going into 6 figure debt, the trades are the answer. We have welders with base pay over $30 an hour and the average for our welders is around $26. Most of our skilled guys make between $65 and $85k a year with overtime. We have 23 paid holidays and 15 days PTO the first year.

As for millenials, we have several in our shop who will be fine leaders in a few years. They, and young people like those mentioned here, give me plenty of confidence that the business world will be just fine when we old guys give it up.

Robert