Suppose Sam Lalevee, 25, Didn't Invest in BA in Communications ...

The Wall Street Journal features the plight of a 20-something - Sam Lalevee - who 1) Invested in a college degree and 2) Hustles with a day job and a gig to make ends meet. He earns about $45,000 annually for putting in 60 hours weekly. He is so short on time he can't cook a proper meal and is lucky to get his laundry done. This is the emerging version of The Rat Race. 

Lalevee's degree is in communications. Professional anonymous network Reddit Public Relations posts the laments of both entry-levels to the job market and more seasoned players who can't get, hold or move on to better positions in communications. Lalevee, whose main income is from working remote for a call center, was among those who didn't make it in to public relations, content-creation or marketing.  

Suppose he, like a growing number of Gen Zers, had opted for training in the skilled trades, instead of completing a traditional college degree? CNBC in an article about the youngest generation in the workforce's bypassing the four-year degree featured auto mechanic Chris Morillon. Long story short she is grossing $78,000 annually. Along the way she purchased her own house.

After high school she went to a technical school for a one-year associate occupational degree in automotive technologies. Because she received a scholarship to that program, which usually goes for $33,000, she only had to invest about $18,000 for becoming a certified automotive technician. 

CNBC chronicles her career journey so far:

"Post associate studies in 2017 she] immediately landed a job as a service assistant at Tesla .... within a year, she was promoted to service technician. She worked there for about four years and in 2021 joined auto manufacturer Lucid Motors ... where she continues to work today."

According to Education Data, given tuition, interest rate on student loans and lost income from not working full-time (that is, opportunity cost), the average nut for a college education could be $500,000.

Of course, some college degrees and advanced ones for graduate and professional schools have an excellent ROI. Billionaire co-founder of financial firm Apollo Marc Rowan received the BS and MBA from the University of Pennsylania. When his father died and the family couldn't afford tuition the university awarded him a scholarship. 

But more and more don't. In my coaching, those from all generations are choosing certifications and licensing instead of the usual kinds of academic degrees. Although I earned a Ph.D. I never took a course in academia in professional content-creation - a career path I had followed for 40 years. For training in intuitive coaching and tarot-reading I enrolled in professional workshops.

In business and life you usually have only one shot at whatever. Up the odds of success with Jane Genova. I am an intuitive coach, tarot reader and content-creator. Complimentary consultation (please text/phone 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com)