20 KEYNOTES MAY 2023 WWW.ALOA.ORG EDUCATION S ometimes, our future path is not always clear. Even when we are children, an adult may ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Some kids may have an answer, though many others may respond, “I dunno.” Even into adulthood, some “grown children” are still not sure of a definitive career path. There are third-year college students who are unsure. Regardless, our vocational direction is often molded by our environment, interests, exposure, TV, family, opportunity and our school counselors. Locksmithing may not always be a top-two pick among other choices, but it still can be a viable income source and one that can be quite exciting — if chosen. It Starts Early One of the obstacles locksmithing faces as a possible career is its inconspicuousness to the public. How many children say, “I want to be a locksmith when I grow up!”? There are so many who have no idea what a locksmith really does, or what the steps are to becoming one. To that point, I recall a state legislator in Michigan who — when approached with questions about locksmith licensing — asked, “What does a lock- smith actually do?” That is a quote. Career Paths When we are nearing our senior year in high school, a counselor may talk to stu- dents about career goals. I remember tak- ing some silly test back in the early 1970s that was supposed to tell my strengths. I remember nothing about it other than I wanted to be a teacher. But, back then, as now, there are very defined career paths suggested. Those who are college-bound (doctors, chemical engineers, school teachers, business consultants, etc.) have a set college curriculum already estab- lished. It is easy for the counselor to di- rect you into one or more of those paths. Students who are not geared for college are often introduced to vocational op- Education: Our Youth By William M. Lynk, CML, CPS, ICML, CMIL, CAI, M.Ed.
