You Pick a Trade, Your Brother Picks College: Debt vs. Wages
110K views · Aug 16, 2026 · Education
Comments · 566
@WealthyLogiX · 1 month ago · pinned
The interesting part of this story is that neither brother really "loses." <br>One gets the degree, the corporate career, and the weekends. <br>The other gets the company, the money, the flexibility—and eventually the physical cost that comes with it. <br>👇 Would you choose college or a skilled trade today—and why?
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@billd7197 · 3 weeks ago
Respect to all the skilled labor men and women in the trades.
142
@MattMurphy-d2q · 1 month ago
I have one Son... During Covid his Mom (My Ex) insisted he go to College. He dropped out. That was the happiest day of my life. I promptly sent him learn HVAC repair as we live in Florida, it is always in demand. He makes good money and likes what he does. That is all I could ask for.
87
@volantcord2210 · 1 month ago
I’ll be honest… Going through an electrical apprenticeship, and then using the money I saved from traveling to pay for classes for an electrical engineering degree… best decision I’ve ever made. I have job security, and both certifications feed each other.
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@johnkenneally4662 · 1 month ago
My two sons took almost exact paths. The electrician bought a house when he was 21. Paid it off when he was 30. The college son is doing well too but lower salary level. Proud of both of them.
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@rogergeyer9851 · 1 month ago
My sister and I took very different paths with different income. One huge kudos I'll give my parents is they never treated us differently re respecting us and our choices. Whether staying single or choosing a higher monetary value career, etc. <br><br>The biggest problem I have with this story (which I imagine is often VERY true) is the lack of respect for the son choosing a trade. I always respected auto mechanics who ran their own shop, etc. Respected the work, the knowledge, the risk, and hoped they earned enough over time to make it worth it.
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@jeffsavage7135 · 2 weeks ago
In my family my sister, the oldest, married a mill worker and became a stay at home housewife, so its a blue collar household. <br>My oldest brother is just winding up his auto mechanic business after 50 years in the trade.<br>Next brother retired out of Tool and Die career where he made packaging material custom orders.<br>Next brother was the white sheep of the family and did ten years with the Vancouver Opera followed by office jobs.<br>Then my twin brother is just about to finish a career of airplane repair and manufacture.<br>I work in the engine room on ships.<br><br>We all did well. My parents were proud of all of us and understood that trades were a great career. None of their six children ever got university degrees. We didn't need them.
12
@gsc1171 · 3 weeks ago (edited)
My family never offered me a choice nor any encouragement - merely expectations which I never followed. <br>I did a degree in science at a state university which I paid for myself through 2 jobs, joined the military and did both officer and pilot training. They never attended my military graduation despite being invited and never offered a reason. <br>I was flying the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy airlifter, the largest aircraft ever built in the USA. We operated to over 28 countries during my 14 year career. At family functions my relatives would just say "so you still doing that little flying thing?"<br>They have no concept of military, service life or what's required to become a military pilot or our duties which included flying into active war zones. Unless you wore a suit they don't count an occupation as a real job!!<br>Maybe because I chose my own path instead of the white collar way of life my family expected and attempted to groom me for.<br>My wife was a dentist in the USAF and when asked about my wife the family just says "oh, she just works in some small dental office!"<br>I left the military and now work flying 747 freighters for a very large US company and make more than both my parents and 3 siblings combined, but they never ask me about my career.<br>At least they don't ask myself or my wife for money!!
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@harivishnupriya2536 · 1 month ago
Choosing to mention only one son while the other son is helping you out in every way possible - it truly hurts! Though the other son made it better in life, his family not choosing to mention him proudly as they mention that one son - hurts deeply!<br>Great video made 👏
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@IX-ABHIRATHSENGUPTA · 1 month ago
The main villain of this story is his dad
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@sonnydacuse7622 · 1 month ago
Success is staying humble and being low key!
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@RelaxedPuppy · 3 weeks ago
Nolan majored in History. He should have selected electrical engineering.
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