Father Brag Moment

[1958 F.W.D.]

So as many of you know, "Large" went to high school vo-tech for welding and in his junior year he was hired onto a co-op job that he worked his junior year, during the summer between junior and senior year and during his senior year. 2 weeks before he graduated, they offered him a full-time spot which he took. He worked four ten hour days having Friday/Sat/Sun off (lucky bastard, I told him that schedule would ruin him to any other schedules for the rest of his life.) Well, that August after he graduated, he and a few other guys got furloughed. Tough break. He found some work and last week of October the same place called him back and he went back. Fast forward to second week of March this year. He and 9 other guys get permanently whacked. So he puts his resume out there and had an interview and a welding test with a major league construction company (offices throughout the midwest United States and east coast) as an apprentice heavy machine mechanic (welder) and apprentice operator. Has to join Local 542 and his starting pay is ho-lee shit!!!!! Medium is in Health Careers in the vo-tech school and has been working a co-op job at the same hospital as his nurse mother as a patient care technician. He graduates in June and has already been accepted into nursing school- he wants to be a flight nurse. Between the two of them Momma and I should be able to go to Shady Pines instead of the County senior citizens home. Damn proud of my boys who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. 

Early indications predict that Small will probably turn wrenches on heavy trucks and Extra Small will probably be some sort of Rocket Scientist or Nuclear Physicist or something similar. 

Resume your regularly scheduled programming. 

[Hayseed]

Good Job, Mate..

Our Kids are the only true Legacy We leave behind, Everything Else is Just  Possessions..

 

Just My 2 Cents Worth.

[Brocky]

Congratulations!!!   All of the above is a sign of good parenting and instilling the sense of responsibility that will reward them all their life..

[mowerman]

Ok Brocky said it all thanks for that and yes you should be walking around with your head held high..very cool post … babba.. Bob

[The Rubber Duck 006]

It's funny that back when I was in school people had the misconception about Vocational Schools. They thought it was for kids that couldn't handle regular Highschool. My Brother who is 3 yrs older than me thought the same thing. Then he saw the jobs and money I made after graduating from Vocational School. Yeah his Preception changed real quick. 17yrs later and I'm still doing what I studied for in Vocational School.

[mrsmackpaul]

I have no idea what vocational schools are, I  gather they are like our Tafe (Technical and further education?) schools in Australia 

Were you go to learn more practical stuff than academic stuff

Anyway glad the they are doing well at what ever their chosen path is

The personal drive and self reliance we have I'm not sure if it comes naturally or is taught or instilled in us as young people, no matter, it does take us a long way in life and it sounds like the kids have it 

Well done and enjoy the proud moments as to me it makes it all worthwhile watching or kids develop in to useful members of society 

 

Paul

[tjc transport]

Paul, here a vocational school" is high school where you do half day regular school classes, and the other half day trade classes.

some also let you skip trade classes senior year and instead go to work in a shop of your trade.

[Red Horse]

In my "youth"-ugh 60 years ago😟- VoTech schools were pretty much trade high schools-they taught the basic trade specialties- automotive, electrical etc.  Today it seems they no longer just focus on a trade as a final objective but give the kids a pathway if they want to go on to a two or  four year degree program.

In any case, I think more and more there is an awareness that a technical/trade education is a far more useful way for kids to spend their time than going to school and pursuing some 'liberal arts"  education.

[mechohaulic]

It's not only a story you should tell and  be  extremely proud ;also interesting the way you distinguish  between your children . large/medium/ small/extra small.

[1958 F.W.D.]

15 minutes ago, mechohaulic said:

It's not only a story you should tell and  be  extremely proud ;also interesting the way you distinguish  between your children . large/medium/ small/extra small.

LOL Someone on here started that years ago before Extra Small was even born, they couldn't keep their names straight so L/M/S and then ES came about!!!!!

[1958 F.W.D.]

On 4/22/2023 at 2:12 PM, mrsmackpaul said:

I have no idea what vocational schools are, I  gather they are like our Tafe (Technical and further education?) schools in Australia 

Were you go to learn more practical stuff than academic stuff

That's what it is Paul. Regular school in the morning and trade school (or in his case, his co-op job) in the afternoons. 

Home | Bethlehem AVTS

[1958 F.W.D.]

On 4/22/2023 at 3:32 PM, tjc transport said:

Paul, here a vocational school" is high school where you do half day regular school classes, and the other half day trade classes.

some also let you skip trade classes senior year and instead go to work in a shop of your trade.

Yep that's the Co-Op jobs I mentioned. Except in both of their cases, they started the co-op job their Junior years. 

[tjc transport]

50+ years ago when i went through the program it was seniors only. 

[The Rubber Duck 006]

Yup yup Paul at The Vocational school I went to here in Ohio Apollo Career Center It was my Junior and Senior years of Highschool. We had our regular classes and our Vocational labs. I took Construction Equipment Technology and did my CDL as an Independent Study my Senior year at the age of 18. We had a daycab Ford L8000 and step deck Equipment trailer with ramps. Yes Apollo has a truck driving school but I couldn't see spending 4-6grand after graduating when I had the opportunity while in school and it only cost me 98 bucks for the test and 14 bucks for a drug test kit so I could use the truck and trailer. Also I had to set up the driving course everyday out back of our lab building to practice maneuverability parts of the test etc. Looking back I'm so glad i did it. 

[tjc transport]

i have an associates degree in electronic  design and repair. 

all i had to do was one semester in collage for the degree as i had enough credits earned in the votech high school.

and that one semester was enough for me. .

i lasted three weeks in my field before i realized it was not for me after a dimwhit took the out of service sign off a zerox machine i was in repairing and turned it on...

but it did give me an excellent understanding of automotive electrical systems which has paid off well over the years.  

[The Rubber Duck 006]

About 3yrs after I graduated I thought I wanted to go to college to be a diesel mechanic. We have The University of North West Ohio here in Lima,Ohio which is one of the top schools for Diesel mechanics in The Nation. Well after one session which my first class was Transportation Refrigeration Heating and Air Conditioning I was done with that mess. I figured we'd be working on Thermo King Units and Diagnosing heat and a/C issues on Semis etc. since the class was named as it was. Well I was wrong and disappointed. While being in the same build as the Ag class and watching them work on combines and tractors Here I was working on a teachers donor car fixing the a/C. Boy what a let down and I got dirty looks from my teacher when I asked and voiced my opinion about the let down of the class. Then when the session was over my teacher looked at me and said "Well Mr.Lyle I just hope you're not making a mistake in life by not coming back" to which I replied "Well I figure I'm not making a mistake by choosing to go to work instead of continuing with College" and I walked out. Boy I tell you the experience I've gained by just being a truck driver and helping work on these trucks and asking questions over these past 17yrs I believe has taught me more than I could ever learn in a classroom and I've enjoyed doing it plus I've gotten paid while doing it as well 😀 😊 🙂.

[other dog]

On 4/23/2023 at 10:20 PM, 1958 F.W.D. said:

LOL Someone on here started that years ago before Extra Small was even born, they couldn't keep their names straight so L/M/S and then ES came about!!!!!

Yes, and every time you went to that  Disney place in Florida- well, never mind, that's not my story to tell...

[other dog]

Congratulations to you and Star on a job well done, and congratulations to Large, Medium, Small, and Extra Small for having their heads screwed on straight!

[1958 F.W.D.]

On 4/25/2023 at 9:16 AM, other dog said:

Yes, and every time you went to that  Disney place in Florida- well, never mind, that's not my story to tell...

I heard that Miss Zina used to be from Florida but now from Virginia wants to take you to Disney...........

[Brocky]

49 minutes ago, 1958 F.W.D. said:

I heard that Miss Zina used to be from Florida but now from Virginia wants to take you to Disney...........

As a tourist or one of the figure employees?????? As Buck Owens sang "Just Act Naturally"!!!!

Edited April 26, 2023 by Brocky

[other dog]

She did say that- she used to anyway, but I told her that I hadn't lost a thing there, they couldn't pay me to go to that over priced tourist trap. Good place to take the chern and let them experience it I guess, but there's nothing there I'd wait in line for and pay out the ass to see.