Jason's Story
Copyright© 2025 by writer 406
Chapter 24
Jason looked around the packed room—47 kids now, with some sitting on windowsills because they’d run out of chairs.
“Last week we talked about options and decision-making,” he wrote OPTIONS = POWER on the whiteboard.
“Today I want to dig deeper into why options matter. But first, let me be clear about something—when I say education, I don’t just mean college.”
He wrote EDUCATION and drew several arrows pointing to different words: COLLEGE, TRADE SCHOOL, APPRENTICESHIPS, CERTIFICATIONS, MILITARY TRAINING, SELF-TEACHING.
“Education means developing skills that make you valuable. Could be a four-year degree, could be learning to weld, could be getting your EMT certification, could be mastering coding through online courses. The point is becoming good at something people will pay good money for.”
He motioned to two people waiting by the door.
Devon raised his hand. “But what if you’re already good at something? Like, I’m really good at working on cars.”
“Good question, Devon. Let’s use you as an example. You’re seventeen, good with cars, planning to work at the auto shop after graduation. Your boss pays you fifteen dollars an hour. Next year, you ask for a raise. He says no. What do you do?”
Devon shrugged. “Accept it, I guess? Or quit.”
“If you quit, then what?”
“Look for another auto shop job?”
“At what pay?”
“Probably the same. Maybe less since I don’t have much experience.”
“Right. So you have no real power in that negotiation because you have no options.”
NO OPTIONS = NO POWER
Jason slapped the top of his desk. The sound made the kids jump.
“Listen up. That is what enslaves people into jobs they hate.”
“Now, different scenario. You graduate high school, go to community college for automotive technology, get certified in hybrid vehicle repair, maybe learn some business skills. Two years later, you ask your boss for a raise. He says no. What are your options now?”
Devon thought about it. “I could work at other shops. Dealerships. Maybe start my own business.”
“And what if you can prove you bring in more money than you cost? That customers specifically ask for you because you’re the only one who knows hybrid systems?”
“Then he’d probably have to give me the raise because he doesn’t want to lose me.”
“Exactly. Your education gave you options, and options gave you power.” Jason turned to the room. “This isn’t just about jobs. This applies to everything—the more options you have, the more freedom you have.”
Maria raised her hand. “Can you give another example?”
“Sure. Let’s say you’re thinking about moving out of your mom’s house into an apartment in Belltown after graduation. If you have a high school diploma and no skills, what are your housing options?”
“Probably roommates; I bet rent down there isn’t cheap.”
“And if something goes wrong—you lose your job, get sick, have a financial emergency?”
“I’d be pretty screwed. Probably have to move back home.”
“Right. Now, what if you have marketable skills, some savings, good credit, maybe a network of professional contacts?”
“I’d have a safety cushion and people who could help me find a new job.”
“Exactly. Education and planning gave you options, which gave you freedom to live independently.”
OPTIONS = FREEDOM
“This is why I keep repeating the word options to you guys over and over.”
Trevor raised his hand. “But education costs money. What if you can’t afford it?”
“Great question. Who can think of ways to get education without going into huge debt?”
Hands shot up around the room.
“Community college is way cheaper,” said Ashley.
“Military pays for college,” added Michael.
“Apprenticeships pay you while you learn,” said Carmen.
“Online courses for some skills,” said Dante.
“Working for someone who’ll teach you while you work,” said Mary.
“All good answers. The point is, there are multiple paths to developing valuable skills. The mistake is thinking your only choice is expensive college or nothing.”
“But here’s the key thing,” he continued, “whatever path you choose, you have to think strategically about what skills are actually valuable in the job market.”
Ahmed raised his hand. “How do you figure that out?”
“Research. What jobs are growing? What do they pay? What skills do they require? Don’t just follow your passion. Unless you’re independently wealthy, you gotta make sure your passion leads to skills people will pay for.”
Jason sat on the edge of his desk. “Let me give you a real-world example. Ten years ago, everyone said follow your dreams, major in what you love. Some people majored in things like medieval literature or art history, spent $100,000 on college, and graduated to find there are maybe fifty jobs in the entire country for medieval literature scholars.”
“So their education was worthless?” asked Devon.
“Not worthless, but it didn’t give them many economic options. Meanwhile, kids who learned welding, plumbing, electrical work, coding, nursing—they graduated with skills people needed and were willing to pay for.”
Keisha raised her hand. “So you’re saying only choose practical majors?”
“Not exactly, I’m saying think about the intersection of what you’re good at, what you enjoy, and what the world needs. That’s where you find careers that are both satisfying and financially viable.”
Jason returned to the board and wrote GOOD AT + ENJOY + WORLD NEEDS = CAREER.
“Mary, you mentioned wanting to work with kids. What jobs involve working with kids?”
“Teaching, childcare, pediatric nursing, social work, school counseling.”
“Right. Now research those fields. What education do they require? What do they pay? What’s the job outlook? That gives you data to make smart decisions about your education path.”
He looked around the room. “Here’s the bigger picture. We live in an unfree world. You have to pay rent, buy food, deal with bosses, follow laws, navigate bureaucracies. But within those constraints, options give you freedom.”
“How?” asked Carmen.
“Think about it. If you owe a ton of money on credit cards, a car loan, and student loans, how free are you to quit a job you hate?”
“Not very,” she admitted.
“But if you have savings, valuable skills, and no debt, how free are you to walk away from a bad situation?”
“Much more free.”
“Right. Options let you say no to things that aren’t good for you. Bad relationships, exploitative jobs, living situations you don’t like.”
OPTIONS = ABILITY TO SAY NO.
Marcus spoke up quietly. “My dad always says he can’t quit his job because we need the insurance and he has to pay the mortgage.”
“Your dad has limited options, so he has limited freedom. That’s not criticism—he’s doing what he needs to do for his family. But what could give him more options?”
“Additional skills? Side income? Less debt?” Marcus suggested.
“All of those. Or you kids growing up and becoming financially independent so he has fewer responsibilities.”
Jason walked around the circle. “This is why I keep emphasizing tactical thinking about education and career choices. It’s not just about making money—it’s about building the kind of life where you have choices.”
Ashley raised her hand. “What if you make a bad choice early on? Are you stuck?”
“Almost never. That’s the beauty of living in America in the 21st century—you can usually reinvent yourself if you’re willing to put in the work. Community colleges, online learning, career change programs, starting your own business. But it’s easier if you make good choices early.”
Devon was taking notes now. “So even if I start at the auto shop, I could still go to school later?”
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.