After watching Dirty Jobs, and visiting his website, Mike has really inspired me to go out and actually work with my hands and do a trade for a living..and I must say, it's the best thing to every happen to me. Thanks Mike! :)

Cool im going to use this in my essay.

Proud to be a 1982 regional occupational graduate from Richmond, CA Unified school district around Process Plant Operator (PPO). I was able to be employed at 18 in a Bay Area refinery, the first has since been closed and now has homes on the property in Hercules. Continued the career for 37 years (and counting), providing for my family. Very fortunate for what I have gained but it was a hard road and worked many hours. Living 45 miles from my employment, 2 of my immediate neighbor work at the same facility so refineries and the community have far reaching arms to the community. Does Oil and Gas provide income to far reaching communities? Think about it. Very proud to work for my pay check, provide for my family as a Oil refinery specialist, giving my best for my job, I never imagined where I would have been today and what I have achieved. Also as a 5th generation Bay Area resident, sad to see where we are headed. As much as the new generation loves "Go green" it will take time, hats off to the Men and Women providing energy to America as we move forward to lower carbon.

Went to trade school dirt cheap absolutely no regrets zero student loan and I did it while living at home working 72 hours a week in summer while taking as many welding classes as possible year round. I did this in my early 20’s despite all my friends telling me trade jobs would get me no where 😂

Invest Trade/vocational school in Houston Texas. We need to compete with big college/universities. 👍

I think one of the presidential candidate were talking about a growing need for vocational training, especially among coal miners that had been laid off. eh I'm sure we're fine without