Fredericksburg Parent

August 2022

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6 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • August 2022 parent fredericksburg & family Entrepreneur of the Year PROUD FOUNDING MEMBER ADVERTISING PHONE 540-429-3572 EMAIL leighanne@fredericksburgparent.net CALENDAR & SOCIAL MEDIA EMAIL webmaster@fredericksburgparent.net EDITORIAL PHONE 540-429-3572 EMAIL fredparenteditor@gmail.com SNAIL MAIL P.O. Box 7884, F'burg, VA 22404 www.fredericksburgparent.net The publishers reserve the right to reject any advertisement, editorial or listing that does not meet the publication's stan- dards. No part of this magazine may be reproduced with out permission. Listing and advertising rates are available upon request. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information con- tained herein, however, the publisher cannot guaran- tee such accuracy. Listings and advertisements are subject to typographical errors, ommissions and/or change without notice. For terms and conditions please visit our website at www.fredericksburgparent.net © Copyright 2022 Nurture, Inc. All rights reserved. LIKE facebook.com/ FredericksburgParent SIGN UP www.FredParent.net TWEET twitter.com/fredpar- ent PIN www.pinterest.com/ fredparent FOLLOW @fredparentmagazine WRITTEN BY CHRIS JONES editor's note editor's note Photo by Corey Miller Photography The The (Educational Educational) ) ) Educational) Educational Educational) Educational) Road Less Road Less Traveled Traveled PUBLISHER Leigh Anne Van Doren Tabitha & Jamie Nelle's mom EDITOR & WEBMASTER Chris Jones Quincy, Hayden & Olive's dad MEDIA & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Megan Walsh: Mia, Noelle & Adelaide's mom DESIGN & PRODUCTION Cheryl Carter: Alex, Kate & Jackie's mom CALENDAR & COOL THINGS TO DO ELETTER Caroline Murray: Nate and Brendan's mom EDUCATION & INFANT ELETTERS Debra Caffrey: Aidan's mom SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR Jessica Trask: Cye, Asher and Ragan's mom SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Mira Dover MARKETING & EVENT INTERN Ragan Trask I'll never forget the day my uncle and I emerged from the Squirrel Hill tunnel in Pittsburgh. Seeing that skyline burst forth was a magical experience. As he navigat- ed the truck through the streets in search of my college apartment complex, I was awestricken by the beauty of the city I would call home for the next several years. Being young and far away from home was exciting and scary. I was in an unfamil- iar city hundreds of miles from home living with unfamiliar people—one from New Jersey and the other from Ohio. Once I finally settled in—it took me six months to get used to lots of rainy days and overcast skies for weeks on end—Pittsburgh became my home and a place where I earned my education, made incredible friend- ships that I have to this day, and is a place I remain closely connected to at heart. Being a product of the '90s where every parent pushed four-year college educa- tions on their children, I was the anomaly. I started at community college, and then transferred into art school. I learned it was best to harness the talent I had, refine it, graduate and go to work, which I was eager to do. To this day, I have no regrets about my choice. I've learned that in the real-world employers say they want certain educational requirements but will often choose experience when it makes the most sense. I'm in no way disregarding four-year colleges; I embrace them as necessary institutions, but as our present digital age and COVID have taught us, we need a well-rounded workforce in American comprised of those who have associate degrees, certifications and trade school educations, too. Don't believe me? Call for a plumber. Inquire about a pressing HVAC need. Get an estimate on a major auto repair. You'll get waitlisted. Something else that most don't know is that some of these trades command six-figure salaries. Our kids will be just fine turning wrenches and owning heating and air companies. All of that bring us to this issue, where we'll take a glimpse at trade schools and a two-year college. We'll discuss the impact COVID and the economy have had on interest and enrollment in these learning institutions. Today, we can see more than ever that an educated workforce—no matter where that education is earned—matters to our future sustainability. As parents of Gen Z kids—where the possibilities include YouTube, Twitch, social media and eSports—it's wise to stay open. My mother hated video games, but now people are paid amaz- ing salaries to play them professionally. It's not about us. It's about them. Our kids have to carve their own paths. It's our job to coach them to success on their terms, even if it doesn't look like what we envisioned the day we held them in the hospital. Embrace them just the same.

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