The Foreign Service Journal, June 2018

76 JUNE 2018 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT Marybeth Hunter is the education and youth officer in the State Department’s Family Liaison Office. She traveled overseas with her Foreign Service family for more than 21 years, and has worked as a teacher and a community liaison office coordinator abroad. H ere’s something all par- ents have in common: they want what is best for their children. This goes for both educational pursuits and career aspirations. The trick is, how does one define what is best? Parents want their children to be happy, successful and thoughtful. So how do they channel their children’s natural strengths and abilities into the ideal post- high school educational path? One option that is often overlooked is the vocational technical post-secondary path for Foreign Service children. This could be in lieu of, or in addition to, a traditional four-year college track. Contemporary society offers com- plex educational choices—choices that can leave parents and students feeling overwhelmed. While reviewing educa- tional options, they might find themselves The vocational-technical path can make a lot of sense in today’s changing economy. BY MARYBETH HUNTER pondering the true purpose of education. How does one navigate the financial cost of college and the troubling implica- tions of student debt for young adults? And how can parents ensure—or at least increase the odds—that the skills young people gain relate to the demands of the competitive job market? Several Foreign Service families have addressed these difficult questions by exploring vocational technical school options. (See Resources, page 78, for a start.) Here are some reasons why vocational technical schools can be considered an attractive choice. First, they teach concrete skills that graduates can apply in the job market. Many technical skills are in short supply today and are sorely needed by indus- try due to the changing nature of labor demands. For example, technical skills such as those used in the construction trades are now in high demand and can- not be outsourced. The work must be done on site, with the available local labor. Second, this path to remunerative employment is typically faster and tar- geted to a specific career. Students take anywhere from two to five years (often including apprenticeships or other work- ing periods) to complete a program to become certified or to earn a degree. The Vocational Education Option A Student’s Search for Meaning in Today’s Economy Unlike most four-year college stu- dents, vocational technical students are free to take only those classes that are required for a specific degree or cer- tificate. As a result, vocational technical schools tend to cost less than the tradi- tional four-year college. Many Benefits For some, “trades” might translate to specific occupations (also known as “new collar” jobs) requiring a very specific skill set. Students might look to gain these skills via training in the form of appren- ticeships or internships sponsored by vocational technical schools and com- munity colleges. If the goal is achieving a high salary, some of the highest-paid skilled trades in America include construction manage- ment, rotary drill operations for the oil and gas industry, plumbing, the electrical industry, the commercial diving industry, HVAC work, carpentry, welding, auto mechanics, the funeral service industry and a host of options in the medical field, including medical sonography and respi- ratory therapy. At some schools, the entire curriculum revolves aroundmastering skills based on community needs.The American College Continued on page 80