I grew up in a time and place where white-collar jobs are seen as the only good jobs one must do, and most of those who indulge in blue-collar jobs are seen as second-class members of society. Although that period has gone, I'm not sure much has changed to date because most young and old people still seek after white-collar jobs, although I must admit that the percentage has dropped, but are blue-collar jobs that bad? Absolutely not, blue-collar jobs are great and noble; they're an integral part of our society, which, without them, almost all sections would fall apart. I'm sure you'll be wondering, what then are blue-collar jobs? Below I'd tell you all about it.
To be honest, I didn't know all these manual jobs that involve manual labor or skilled trades are called blue-collar jobs; I basically just see them as artisan. They are most of those hard workers we see and use their services in different aspects of our lives. Examples of blue-collar jobs are carpenters, bricklayers, tailors, electricians, welders, and the like. These are individuals whose services are required in different aspects of life on a daily basis, and without them, the world would be a shadow of itself, because they're the fuel that keeps the world engine going in our homes, offices, transportation, and what have you.
I've always admired the blue-collar jobs right from when I was younger. I remember I once told my teachers during my primary school days that the career I'd love to do when I grew up was a hairdresser. It's funny how they laughed at me back then, and it's a typical example of how undervalued and disrespected these types of jobs are. The same is the case with how much Dad stopped me from learning tailoring after I made an attempt to do so after graduating from high school. I regretted that act to date because I still nurtured the desire, just that it seems pausing to reignite that will bring about a lot of things I can't imagine dealing with now.
That you're doing a blue-collar job doesn't mean you don't matter; in fact, you do more than those doing white-collar jobs, and that's why we shouldn't be ashamed to learn it as youths. In our leisure time, putting in time to acquire those skills would go a long way in shaping our lives towards a better future. White-collar jobs are mostly under a boss; with your blue-collar jobs, you're your own boss and can do things at your own pace. These are things many white-collar jobbers desire, including myself. I can't just take a break on my own without facing the wrath of my employer.
Even if you want to go to the higher institutions, try to learn and acquire a skill that'll make you skilled in one blue-collar job. This will not only serve you and become a source of income while you're studying in the higher institutions, but it'll also serve as a double-factor authentication that can keep you afloat even when your white-collar job employers ditch you. People are so overwhelmed with their white-collar jobs that when they collapse, they'll have nowhere to go. If you don't want your case to be like that, learn a skill today and secure your future.
All photos are mine.