Writers 
Getting an education is one of the best things you can do for yourself. School teaches us new things, helps us become better at thinking critically, opens up new ideas for us, and can lead to many different job opportunities. But in the world we live in now, having a certificate might not always be enough. This is why getting a practical trade or useful skill along with a formal education is becoming more and more important.
Going to school is fine. In fact, education is still a key part of growing as a person and as a society. To do their jobs well, doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, researchers, administrators, and a lot of other professionals need formal education and specialized training. Going to school can give you the theoretical knowledge and professional credentials you need to work in these fields.
But while you are going to school, it is also a good idea to learn a useful skill.
What counts as a trade? It could be anything from sewing, hairdressing, welding, plumbing, installing electricity, catering, fixing cars, and carpentry to more modern digital skills like graphic design, video editing, web development, digital marketing, photography, and content creation.
One good thing about learning a trade is that it gives you useful skills you can use to make money. You don't have to rely on just one career path because you have another skill that could help you make money.
Think about a college student who studies Political Science and also learns how to make graphics. The person could go into a career in political science, administration, education, or government after graduation. At the same time, graphic design skills can be used to work as a freelancer, make business cards, or start a small company.
This doesn't mean that everyone needs to become an expert in more than one field. Instead, the goal is to make more than one useful skillset.
Life can be hard to plan for. When someone graduates from college, they may find that it takes longer than they thought to get a job. Someone else might lose their job or have money problems. If a person has learned a useful skill, they might have another choice while looking for work or building their career.
Because of this, parents shouldn't stop their kids from learning trades just because they are in school. Also, young people shouldn't think that technical or vocational skills are less important than going to college.
Education and skills shouldn't have to compete with each other for no reason. Both can work well with the other.
Going to school can give you information, credentials, and professional experience. Having a practical skill, on the other hand, can give you another way to make money and add value.
People with skills that might not be useful in an office setting can also find work in today's economy. A good photographer can do their job on their own. On the web, a graphic designer can work with clients. A fashion designer can make a brand of clothes. A mechanic knows how to run a workshop. Events can use the services of a caterer. A skilled tech can get people in their community to use their services.
The important thing is not just to learn a skill, but to really improve it. Someone should be willing to work on their skill, get better at it, learn how to market their services, and understand how the business side of it works.
So, teens and young adults should think about more than just certificates. Learn things, but also learn how to use them. Learn something that you can do with your mouse, your hands, or your mind.
Just because you are in school doesn't mean you shouldn't think about what else you can learn. In your free time, learn a useful skill or a digital one. If you have already graduated and are having trouble finding work, you might want to learn a skill that will help you get a job.
The goal is not to give up trade for education or trade for education. The goal is to get knowledge and useful skills together.
A certificate might help you get a chance, but a useful skill might help you make a chance for yourself.
Go to school. Pick up a trade. Learn how to use technology. Continue to learn. You can improve yourself in more than one way.
Because if one path gets hard, another useful skill might open up another one.
