Apprenticeships Light More Than a City. A short story by Nicholas Morgan.

Once upon a time in a small town, there lived a curious young boy named Joshua. He was a kind-hearted, enthusiastic child who loved nothing more than exploring the world around him. Joshua had a deep passion for fixing things and dreamed of becoming an inventor someday.

One warm summer day, as Joshua was walking to the pond to catch frogs, he stumbled upon an old man fixing a streetlight. Intrigued, Joshua approached the man and struck up a conversation. But as soon as the old man started talking about his millions, Joshua’s eyes opened wide, and he thought, “Wait, this guy is rich? I should listen to him!”

Mr. Thompson, the old man, was cheerful and friendly, and he told Joshua that he had earned his fortune by participating in an apprenticeship program. Joshua was confused because he thought apprenticeship was something only his grandpa did back in the day. So he asked, “What is apprenticeship? Is that like a magic trick or something?”

Mr. Thompson chuckled and explained that apprenticeship is a way to learn skills on the job while getting paid. Joshua’s eyes lit up as he realized that he could learn and earn at the same time. He thought to himself, “Wow, that’s like hitting two birds with one stone! Maybe I can finally afford that hoverboard I’ve always wanted!”

As Mr. Thompson continued to share his story, they laughed together at some of the jokes and stories he told. Joshua found Mr. Thompson’s perspective refreshing and inspiring. But then Mr. Thompson said something that made Joshua spit out his lemonade in laughter. “You know, young man, I worked so hard as an electrician that I could light up the entire town with my earnings!”

Joshua couldn’t stop laughing and replied, “You’re the reason why the electric company’s stock is up!”

As the sun began to set, Joshua bid Mr. Thompson farewell and continued his walk to the pond, his mind racing with thoughts about the conversation they had shared. The encounter had opened his eyes to the possibility that college wasn’t the only path to a successful, fulfilling life. He thought to himself, “Who needs college when I can learn and earn at the same time? I’ll be the richest inventor in town!”

With renewed determination, Joshua decided to explore the world of apprenticeships and trade skills, eager to carve his own path and make his dreams a reality. From that day on, Joshua was no longer swayed by the voices that told him college was the only option. He knew that apprenticeships could lead to success in various industries and that he could build a bright future by following his passion.

And so, Joshua embarked on a journey to forge his own path, inspired by the wisdom of an old man who had changed his life with a single conversation. As he walked home from the pond that day, Joshua knew that his life had taken a turn for the better, and he couldn’t wait to see where his dreams would take him. He was excited about the possibilities and thought to himself, “Who knows, maybe I’ll invent a hoverboard that runs on electricity!”