Many university and high school students believe that the students of these technical/vocational training schools are inferior to them and are therefore treated accordingly. Of course certain biases cannot be avoided in society, but I believe that as a high school or university student, there should at least be an understanding of the importance of garnering a skill.

Our parents tell us we have to get that degree, or we have to pass those subjects or they might even tell us to join a club. Why don’t they exert the same energy in emphasizing on the importance of having a skill? 

As a teenager or young adult, we should make it our point of duty to be versed in areas outside of academia. Based on our country’s economic stature, the ability to facilitate qualified university graduates is dwindling drastically. On the other hand, the platform facilitating skilled professionals has been expanding overtime. There are so many first class honours university graduates who are sitting on their degrees at home, because they are unable to find a job. If some of these students had been wise enough to learn a skill, chances are, they would have been exposed to much more opportunities, both local and international. There are several reports that H.E.A.R.T graduates are some of the leading world class professionals, so what does this say? It pays to have a skill. Where do you see yourself in 5, 3, 2 or even 10 years from now. The pertinence of academia should not be undermined, but most of us should not forget that there is more to life than “beating the books” . 

Study for your degree, pass your CSEC or CAPE exams, but learn a skill alongside that. None of us are aware of what our future holds and anything may happen in life (though I wish you all the best). But we should all have a skill in the event that we are unable to land a job upon graduating, our skills are what we will fall back on. 

Being skilled certified does not make one less qualified or less important. Let us move past that ideology that most of us uphold. Get your degree of course, aim for that 4.0 G.P.A, get those As and yes get those grade ones too. But while you’re at it, go learn a skill.