That’s great to listen to
My sons mother came out of one
Casa de copii ( house of the children)
Fagaras
Transylvania
And another ex partner and they’ve all been affected mentally badly
In general hate their country
And have anxiety and other mental health problems
Studies show children who come from such backgrounds have concentration and social issues
Even young kids who’ve no memory of their former lives
This is for all kids coming out of state run institutions
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Very much depends on the individual tbh. Some are ready. Some are not.
Some people will go into workforce straight from school and will never feel like they can leave it to return to third level.
A free induction type year scenario out of school would be interesting. Take a taster module in engineering, another in music, another in law or whatever. One basic assignment per module at most. Maybe none. I’m sure it would be an absolute clusterfuck but would be interesting to see what comes of it.
The worst thing is seeing a student in 3rd or 4th year dropping out, with nothing to show for it. When my kid goes (if she goes), I’ll tell her if she’s not liking the course after 18 months, ditch it. Can start something else down the line. Other kids don’t have the luxury. There’s expectations at home that they better get the degree or they’re a failure.
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100 percent
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You’re bang on
Luckily my kid had his plans made in first year- so far so good
Most of his mates in college and MTU aren’t decided at all on their careers
Worrying I reckon
Not saying my fella won’t change but he won’t go to the trades
Takes one long look at my medicine- painkillers etc and he hopefully will avoid manual labour
I’ve another son a bricklayer subbie 36 he’s looking to make enough to stop in 10 years 
That’s a major reason for the lack of trades people.
Current Mammies & Daddies think all their offspring can be rocket scientists.
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True
We also get parents who want to give their kids opportunities they never had, but they presume the only route to this is third level
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Looking at one but he didn’t want a trade I’d an electrician one
And an apprenticeship with my son waiting if he didn’t get college
( more of a threat tbh)
Anyway his choice was make college or go to a trade
Fair fucks to him he’s in Dunne’s stores a few evenings and nights aswell
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Trades are fine and the money is good but as posted by a few above the body can get burned out by 50 odd and then what? The current government will want present day teenagers working up to 70 so you need to choose wisely. Trades guys working long hours on the few summer days we get, no time for hobbies of families. Miserable wet winters. I’m not a fan.
For both of my eldest it took them three goes before they found out what they wanted. Both returning to college. The third, God knows if he’ll ever settle, but that’s a different story. Education is key. Without it there is very little choice.
Personally, I was always going to be an engineer. I was building electronic circuits long before I went to college. Sat in labs beside other students in first year wondering could they get electrocuted with 5 volts. Other lads regaling great stories of the time they cut open a can to look at the widget. My point is you either have it in you to be an engineer or you just haven’t. Same for accountants, teachers and medical professionals.
Finally, there’s no greater happiness and motivator for any person other than a great partner. But there’s probably a separate thread for that…
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I was in secondary school during the boom times and into crash times. All the teachers motivated us to work by saying we would end up in the trades if we didn’t work hard!
The most successful lads from my year are involved in construction either self employed or running a company and fair play to them.
The change in mentality around 2007/8/9 was stark.
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Thank you
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I wish I knew now what I thought I knew when I was a teenager.
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Well done that man
Principal
18 weeks be more like it
Don’t force him to do anything anyway. Everyone will find their way eventually. People are living longer than ever before and able to work to an older age. They are having kids older and getting married older too. It’s pure madness trying to decide what you want to do with your life at 18 or 19.
Enjoy life.
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It is madness I entirely agree, but the average student debt now stands at £50000, repaid at usurial interest rate over 40 years. Now he won’t have a student debt as we won’t allow it hopefully, but we won’t tell him that til later.
If going to uni, and I honestly am not at all bothered either way, I would want him to do something he finds stimulating and hopefully useful. I think loads of English kids go to uni because they have no idea what else to do.
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That system is used in many of the old ITs. When inleft school didnt get the points i should have tbh but thats on myself, the course i did in LIT you had an option of leaving after 2nd year with a cert. Some fellas took it as they realised it wasnt for them bjt had something to show for it and went on to something they enjoyed. Again you had the same option after year 3 than to go onto 4th year if it suited. I went onto UL into the course i wanted originally but it took me an extra year. It gave me the option to think of what i actually wanted to do. I have friends that got to 2nd year twoce and dropped out. Only to get into something they love a few years after. College isnt for everyone but also guidance in schools leaves a lot to be desired, well at my time anyway. Saying that schools dont have enough resources to address this properly either
There is a big gap at the moment from the crash. Thats when i left school andneveryone was told it was college or minimum wage job, if you could find one. Tradesman are worth their weoght in gold now and in 15 years time it will be worse unless the attitude swings back that young people should serve a trade if they want. Too much social value is added to degrees which in reality arent worth the paper they are on.
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