Like many other young adults, Shyane, Alex, and Ryan feel like they’ve been pushed down the path to a four-year degree—but they can’t keep ignoring the questions that have arisen along the way: “What other routes are out there? What about the people who’ve jumped off this assembly line to handcraft a fulfilling career?” 
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To find the answers, they cross the country to talk to people working in skill-forward careers—people who’ve embraced other roads to opportunity, like trade schools, certificate programs, and on-the-job training. As they uncover the talent, precision, and passion being put into skilled jobs and trades, they realize that not every success story has to start with a four-year degree—a fulfilling life is built any way you choose.

Skill Powered

INSIGHTS FROM THE FILM

Penn Foster

FUELED BY:

Strada Education Network

You have the power to build yourself a better life—all you have to do is equip yourself with the right set of skills.

I think it's kind of ridiculous that we expect an 18-year-old kid to go tens of thousands of dollars into debt without them having any idea what it is that they want to do. &gt;&gt; Pretty much what they preached about in school was either you had to go to college, you had to join the military, or you're gonna be stuck with a dead-end job, wasting your life. It's like, there's more options than that. &gt;&gt; I thought my interest was into studying human behavior, but there's a lot more school, and I need to start making money. I don't want to feel like I'm stuck in one place. &gt;&gt; I think the trades kind of have a stigma around them. I don't even know many people that consider the trades, I didn't. I'd rather do some interviews and just see what all of these veterans of the skilled trades have to say. &gt;&gt; This December I am taking off with Cheyenne and Ryan. &gt;&gt; We're gonna hop in a green RV. &gt;&gt; It's gonna be 21 days, 3,200 miles. Travel &gt;&gt; From California to Miami &gt;&gt; I really hope to see something that really sticks out to me, because I'm still a little bit lost about what I want to do for a living. &gt;&gt; My perception of trade changed a lot over this trip. I didn't even know that a lot of these careers existed. &gt;&gt; I feel like if America really needs these jobs to be filled, they really need people to train in these certain fields. &gt;&gt; Wherever you go you need an auto technician, you need a plumber, you need a electrician. You need these trades. [MUSIC] 

Skill Powered Trailer

ridiculous that we expect of thousands of dollars into idea what it is that they wanna do. preached about in school was either you had to go to military, or you're gonna be stuck with a dead end job. trades and the other kind of options. of choosing where I want to be. gonna go and what's gonna happen, but trades, exploring the skills that are out there. a four-year degree is just not feasible. a stigma doing trade. option than going to a university. like a specific type of work with their hands, money. hands, or doing makeup, or being a chef, like mechanic one day someone to build their home. interviews and of the skilled trades have to say. off with Shyanne and Ryan. 3,200 miles traveled. kinda different trades there are out there. something that really sticks out little bit lost about what I wanna do for a living. I'm sure I have have no idea even exists, and and I have no idea that it's even out there. started working in the cold, air, electrical, plumbing. pumps now that we're starting the heating season. my dad would take me into his office, up in a cubicle all day. to me. to be sitting there all day. tools and place every day. space or up in the attic, just sweating away, if there's something better out there for me. use my mind for work more than I do. degree is just not feasible. life plan at the moment. I had to spring it on him one day. a month, going on a road trip. and just see what kind of advice they have for I'm just trying to see what's out there, and be successful. didn't know if I need them or not. in general that I'm not used to. raised in Southern California. I wanted to try everything, and my number one passion. on a scholarship at college. I felt like I was part of a team. the last month of my season and at the time and I failed. graduated from college and cousins. everything, my parents weren't gonna help me. I'm here to pick up for Siquo. I work for a temp agency. it's not  something I wanna do, but I'm good at it. you've gotta pick stuff that you can do. out what I really want. choosing where I want to be, and trip. out there. on and ask the questions that I wanna ask. gonna go and what's gonna happen, but now. sketchbooks, clothes, some makeup, so much. Splendora, Texas. you can see the entire town. we lived on a native reservation. my parents were alcoholics. biggest party central places, and to a lot as a child. first job. two years and it's called Pump It Up. place for children. for me or I want to work in long-term. you're kinda pressured by dead- end jobs or the option of trades schools. animals a little bit more. animals all day. that I'd be interested in doing in the future. want to do more with my life, and enjoy doing. because you kind of have to. Rubber Ducky, and Baby Shae. when we need to communicate while moving the RV gotta make a left in a quarter of a mile, over. interview today. renowned welder. welder/teacher. pretty crazy, I was kind of nervous at first. she fired up the torch and let us have at it. I didn't know what welding was, school, I fell in love with welding. how to weld. how do you like welding? >> So, and I am still trying to figure out where I belong. certificates, to get to the point you are? just started jumping in the field? they offered a Regional Occupational Program. Saturdays, and I was reading everything they offered. I didn't know what welding was, the instructor came out. welding is the art of fusion, and didn't have a clue what fusion was. >> But his presentation just captivated fusion, that was it, struck the arc and fell in love. small, eighth of an inch, and pounds per square inch. correctly. started in this type of work? school, not if you didn't try to get your GED. a high school diploma, a community college. take a class, take a course. America they say is 52, replenished. like you're a failure, to a four-year university. you are still being, what? >> Closer to the metal. instruction once we started. the size of a pin head. improvement. so look at the difference, just in a matter of, what? people who are still looking for their passion. while they're still learning? to really find out what you like, but by. and knock on the door, you have to go look. you, being the best you, invest in you. deposits, what's gonna be in your bank account? heart, zero, plus zero, is who? in you if you want to be zero? yourself, that's what I tell my daughter, cuz guess what? you could be nothing by yourself. something, come to work, could I take a tour? see what this is about? find a class and try, so and preparing, yourself. that dream. Laura Zahn at Ally Woodshop. is the collective woodshop, makers that come in everyday. their own work, and running their own businesses. Lee. space. woodshop. Ron Swanson's woodshop. this shop 15 years ago. got his big break acting job on Parks and Recreation. fell in love with this space, and never left. dad built a lot of his own custom furniture. a little bit with tools, it as like a profession. stuck in my head that I could only help, policy, I worked as an environmental organizer. important, but at the end of the day. time was spent during the day. who make things with their hands, woodworking. feeling like I'm connected to my roots. things, real interest in putting things together. and sort of started building skateboards, whatever I wanted to play with, but basement. scrap wood making wooden that's really where it started. >> I was finding myself in computers, I was on the phone. of something into the world. year-long certificate program of furniture making. Allied Woodshop, and it was gradual. had a full time job, and work. and my full-time job is running Ally Woodshop. for jobs on Craigslist, together, I had multiple jobs. building cabinets for five years. summer course in really fine woodworking. instrumental from taking my that to high-end furniture. different paths to get started. have woodworking programs, apprenticeship. makers, or the woodworkers in your areas, like you weren't capable of achieving your more sort of impatience field. show for myself at a shop, that a man would in the same position. Allied woodshop would work. led me to just sign the lease and jump. LA, we hadn't really taken out the RV out for so we hit the road to Vegas. hard left [SOUND] >> Getting to actually favorite parts, in all honesty, about the road trip. we went and interviewed Leticia. the Bacchanal Buffet,  >> Fantastic place. know what it was, it was just so fancy. I've ever been in my life. really thought of it as being a profession of mine. and a day. eight chefs, so the morning to set up the breakfast. the other with about 200 spoons in my pocket, station. mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, soup and we do tacos, al pastor, churros. are freshly made every day. biscuits and gravy that is reminded me of home. five star rating, it's incredibly hard. have to come out perfectly. a limited menu, and so it's easier to control. people to make that happen, so apart of it. about how you got into being a chef? my family, it's all about food. around and moles and tamales love with it. passion when I was about eight years old. that you develop a skill throughout the years. better at it. who you are. day or else I'm not right. >> How do you deal with the stress of everything. to deal with 124 cooks, guests. much and so stressful, but me now because your toolbox, tools for the things that come in. challenges because you have the experience behind it. love life has many ups and downs. there is that love that keeps you going every day, the top buffet in the world. people can do if they are willing to the things just in a sense that, I'm selling myself short and opportunities. about heating and air. do it's not really something I love. spend more time searching and can enjoy and try to make a career out of it. makes me happy at this point. if I feel like I'd be running away. use a fresh start and recreate myself somewhere else. freaking, freezing place. Peter Page of AMENERGY. Santos Designs. that they built together. sustainable building before, but product of it. different systems working in concert here. sunlight comes in and floor space. the interior temperature of the home to self regulate. this house. age that I ever even picked up a power tool or book about Earthships. homes that didn't require any connection to the grid input the principals behind it were the thing that I said, Taos, where is Taos? just drove to Taos, took a road trip like yourselves. of had a natural affinity working with my hands, and sort of merging that, physically building things with my conservation was a natural fit. going with it. own contractors license and launch an idea, company. stand alone system for their own power. innovator. Greenwich, Connecticut. it, you had to drive a boat to get there. top of one of the buildings that he built, and confidence for when I ended up moving to New Mexico, in an off-grid location. energy because of independence and necessity. that bank of solar collectors. solar array. bring it back and run it through the floor. domestic hot water that comes out of the showers, used was pretty eye opening, do with it. that's kind of connected to you, connected to you, I would act on that. >> Make it fun. >> I asked him if he was hiring because I and go start working for him. to tear out and make it work, inspiring. possumate [LAUGH] Cut was about their work is very inspiring. she was incredible, she loves it. she just loves what she does and life. an old school idea of what trades are, labor and that's not really the case. nice to see what else is out there and different things going on in the world. their work, passionate about my work. there are different trades and do. require a four year degree. the second half of the trip. dimension. times and be here at midnight. Alex is something else. is to find what annoys me and song, meow meow meow meow meow, and [LAUGH]. lot. empty the black grey water in the RV. gloves, and he was gonna be the one that did it. to help and he put his shoe over the hose so the drain. door which I thought was enough contributing. >> Why would you do that man? control it. getting to hang out with them, to going back to Texas. negativity back home, and feel stuck again. away from that for a little bit. this little museum and there with his horses. I don't know why. mysterious interview that we ended up doing. mark on his forehead. a border patrol agent and ghost riders. Mexico. euthanized. I got one horse left, come and we're gonna have to kill him too. Park and one little girl caught my attention. up her chest, she couldn't walk. and she says mister, please? and all of a sudden, something none of them other kids was doing >> And I was just gonna rescue horses and it never occurred to me, something. won't give up on them until the day I die. though, and >> You've got problems, and >> You're the only life and look I'm sorry, I have no time for you. tell them the truth and say, hey look, somewhere more that you could be more valuable. stand up to it, accept it. little bit lost in their mindset and don't do that. you. you're giving me attention. passionate people who work with animals all day. City where we went to the Oklahoma City Zoo. the coolest job in the world. every single animal in the zoo. looking at, providing for and quality life. to want to work at the zoo? was able to have an interaction with an animal. in the eye and that was it for me. to working with animals. husbandry and welfare, I get to watch animals and >> And this is start thinking like a bear. >> Grizzly bears have an incredible food. basically, how hard we can make it for it, they were not in our care. it anywhere that you'd like. zoo, I spend a lot of time in front of animals, okay what can I build? do that stimulates this animal and the whole trip about how she and wanted to see one. was gonna get to meet any. pup by the name of Cash. you where training starts. him to be able to interact with you guys. strangers are not something to be afraid of and new experiences down the road. she was always waiting for people to get that, that felt like it, it might be with the seals. >> He's so precious. >> [LAUGH] had contact with them that close. the best moments of my life. excited, I still am [LAUGH]. job in particular is every person but a lot of people don't. this job in particular, behavior for 20 years, and I will continue to learn for job training aspect that you can't get in a book. doing it, and learning and making mistakes, and though. could do. get in is volunteering. about what you do and animals, you can just get a job. something that I'd be interested in doing in fear of jumping into something, right? you just jump into something else. again. just staying in one spot and opportunities flashing by. So we can be found plant in Auburn, Alabama. the technology that they had there. for the jet engines and clean the place was was pretty crazy. parts being 3D printed. there. flour. it's actually melting the material for a split second. right there on the spot. complex geometry and powder and re-solidifying it right there. print it. there? removing powder off of that middle area at GE. running the DMLM machines, machines. graduated on time with my class. work is a good day's pay. majority of my life. news report talking about 3D printing machines. something that I was very interested in, and I tried hard the whole time that I wouldn't get in out here. stringent criteria that you had to go through to did get in the front door. was the very first female that in the 3D printing area. is for manufacturing or 3D printing? a very important step. future. it's gonna be wide open. to remove the parts of about. >> That's pretty cool. >> The world is your oyster right now, have so many opportunities ahead of you. passionate about, just work hard, ability. for you. you do the best you can, you. Follow your passion because that's truly the technical background, and manufacturing. hiding, that I can just be comfortable with what I have. really do need to struggle if you really want working at after this trip, I'm gonna be a tax agent. rattling in my head, wanna [LAUGH] do it anymore. being a tax agent is a horrible thing, it's not. stray from it. where life takes me. hours. us, and it is the last long haul that we have. ready to go. him. >> You're not supposed to say hallway. >> [LAUGH] instructor, and also a scuba store owner. already and I am a certified life guard. somebody who is a small business owner, be a small business owner. snorkeling gear and stuff like that. practicing law to open up a scuba diving shop. the money. but not the money. money but not the time. that time didn't run out before it was too late to would enjoy. I don't wanna be on it anymore. is much more enjoyable days writing memos and briefs and everything. your program and how long it is? certification that you would want, certification. a Discover Scuba in the pool, certification, which is Open Water. Rescue, Divemaster, to be a dive instructor here. you have a lot of different options, the professional level. actually start assisting with other divers, assisting classes, and actually working in the industry. there's dive shops all over the world. sense that you have a specific task every day. hunter. called the Treasure Coast, worth in gold every year from the ship wrecks. diving. he's diving, taking photos, those certain things, and I can do that, too. something, and you wanna pursuit it, pursuit it. kind of be stuck in a career for 20, that, you don't have any other options. of explore that and that you really like. what makes you happy. waterfall. good idea to jump off the waterfall. was actually serious. jumping. about it the night before. how I was gonna do it. hesitated, I looked again, and then just jumped. I've learned on this wonderful trip is that you've just gotta pick. gonna be still stranded in the middle. you try not to let that fear control you. changing. we got to see the Blue Man Group. know how many people to put that show on. and wardrobe artists there. technician. instrument technician department. instruments in the Blue Man Group show. maintenance to building the instruments in many cases. path to where I'm at. do is heard by the audience. perceive that. the show and having a good time. every time that you sit down at that desk, and are watching every move that you do. that, of, it's what drives you. that, it is another path though. even though you think you're going here, how you get them blue? >> What does it taste like? I'm just kidding training. through the Blue Man process. is a whole process that involves prosthetic stuff. on. important part of my life. go, well, I wanna do something. stage. And after I graduated, do. do I want to go into fashion? now. I ended up getting an internship at NBC. that I could find for NBC. so I found a number. trying to get through the HR department, and with an internship, started working in television. which was amazing, it was a dream. Blue Man Group came up, and mark. I would think, what's the next step? I just really enjoy what I do. feel at home is really important. finishing up our trip here? your own opportunity. you get on the phone and you call them. >> You have to go and out there. district, handed my resume out. it was incredibly terrifying do this. resume, and I would follow up with phone calls. wait for someone else to find it for you. >> Yes. >> That's more like it. succeed. advice. it is coming to an end. honestly. gonna be processing this trip over because it's just been so much. success? you are, but how far you travel to get there. broke, crayon you couldn't color with. motivation to last as long as possible so be. that are doing extremely well with their lives. them on a personal level, it clicks, wanna be someday, I can get there as well. cuz this is brand new for traveling across country. people, and see what is out there and see what people buildings instead of outside of the buildings. kind of work is going on. experience is that there are jobs out there. doing them. almost stuck doing a trade, can't do something else. was doing what they really enjoyed doing. passion. I just kept going with it. I just really enjoy what I do. were just having fun. and there's something out there for me. people life that's provided with a desk job makes me happy. diving, I'm ready to take on what's next. find where you're supposed to be. than I would've assumed initially. motivation, for sure. when people come in here and they're going to start to be like bam, unexpected advice. but I promise for every low in my life, high. difficult. quotes because I think everyone's idea of or like the lawyer, doctor, whatever. everybody wants to do that. me. of these careers existed. university. that there are other routes. biscuit. >> Coming from the small town, felt like I would never get out of there and do pretty much anything. the limit at this point. 

We’re sending three people on a road trip across the U.S., fueled by Penn Foster and Strada Education Network, to seek out individuals who’ve built lives they’re proud of by learning skills and trades, and taking on all kinds of training outside of getting a four-year degree. The work they do doesn’t depend on years of school—but it does take skill, determination, and the will to get things done. We’re on a mission to tell their stories, learn from their struggles, and show that there’s not just one way to make a life for yourself.

Skills Forward Roadtrip

STOPS & INTERVIEWS

STOPS & INTERVIEWS

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