Should my child go to university or learn a trade?

Should I send my child to university regardless of the major, or should I guide them toward learning a trade?

Read on and decide for yourself.

Everyone is striving to send their children to university.

In a changing world, by the time you graduate from university, the importance of the major you finished often fades away.

Learning a trade is becoming increasingly important with each passing day.

Even if you graduate from one of the world's best schools, like Harvard, the place you end up and the salary you receive are not that different from those who graduated from other schools.

Now, if you are ready, I will confront you with a reality that has touched my own life.

The date is September 9, 2011.

The day my son Tuna was born.

My son is now 14 years old.

He has been studying at the British International School for 10 years.

He is a sophomore in high school.

He has 2.5 years left until he goes to university.

On the day Tuna was born, my ex-wife went to the hairdresser at 6:00 AM to get a blowout.

That morning, a 16-year-old boy did her hair.

His name is Yakup Turan.

He had chosen to become a hairdresser by trade.

Later, Yakup cut both my hair and my son's hair.

Years passed.

Yakup turned 22.

In 2017, together with his 3 siblings, he opened a hair salon center called Ekip in Zekeriyaköy.

Yakup is now 30 years old.

It has been 14 years since he started this profession. He is the same age as my son.

The hair salon he opened with his 3 siblings is currently one of the best in Zekeriyaköy.

There are 20 people working under Yakup.

All 3 siblings are married.

All three have homes and cars.

And most importantly, they have a trade they will practice until they die.

It is a profession that will never die as long as the world turns.

Now, as for those who were the same age as Yakup back then and went to university…

Most of them are trying to get by on a salary of 50,000 TL at the workplaces where they are employed.

Of course, there will be those who finish university and do very successful work or start their own businesses.

But the bitter truth is that most of them are stuck living on a salary.

Not everyone has to finish university.

Let's lift our heads a little and focus on the professions of the future.

One should not interpret what I have written as 'nobody should go to university, everyone should be a hairdresser.'

Medicine and law are also professions. And they are very important, vital professions....

I am saying that in this century, having a trade will make you more sought after.

Lift your head a little and think about what kind of jobs you would be successful in.

Our universities now have many departments where you can learn a trade.

Think about your future and choose professions where you will be successful and earn money.

Do not go to university just for the sake of studying...