It was a bad haircut that set Krista Gray, a Norfolk-based hairstylist, on her career path.
“That day I vowed that I would make it my mission to save anyone I could from that kind of hair trauma,” she wrote on her business website. She committed that she would be a stylist who took time to listen and understand her clients’ wishes.
Despite her parents’ wishes that she go to college, she decided to enroll in beauty school instead. In only nine months, she earned her state certification and was ready to go to work.
“I came out and I got a job straight away,” she said. “I didn’t have to spend four years learning something that would not get me to where I wanted to be. The math and science I learned was related to my vocation.”
She hopes parents will take this message to heart as their children ponder what is next after high school. College isn’t necessarily the answer for everyone. She believes children should pursue the vocations that most interest them.
“If you stop a child from something they want to do because of your dreams, that would be unfair,” she explained. “Everyone has a passion or a path they have to live with. They have to love what they do.”
For many students, this means a training program that is more affordable and requires less time than earning a four-year degree.
“Going to work and making money isn’t the issue anymore,” she explained. “You have to love what you do so that you enjoy your life. If the job that they need is a vocational job like a car mechanic, hairdresser or chef, that doesn’t require four years of college education; it takes hands-on training.”
Skilled trades provide workers with skills they can use anywhere in the world--and even in economic downturns. Unlike industries like retail or hospitality that are influenced by the season or by regional economic stability, jobs for those working in skilled trades typically remain steady. Start your journey into skilled trade careers by exploring local training programs on our Resources page.