NRV Fe at u r e s
When I Grow Up
Text by Becky Hepler In the quest for upward mobility, children have been counseled to aim higher than their parents in a career path, especially if they are from a family of blue collar workers, with the hopeful result that going to college will be higher pay and less back-breaking work.
This begs the questions:
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Is a kindergarten teacher less tired than a construction worker at the end of the day? How does the pay of an English major barista stack up with a plumber? Are the minions in a cubicle farm really happy?
College, in and of itself, is a very worthy goal. It expands horizons, gives critical thinking skills and provides 38
NRV MAGAZINE
alternative viewpoints, but it’s not the only way to fulfilling work that can support a household. Chris Bennington from Giles County didn’t have any real career goals in mind when he graduated from high school. He patched together a living with jobs in fast food and a stint at Tetra, but adding a wife and family suddenly brought things into focus. He’d heard that a heating and cooling company needed workers, and he got hired. More than 20 years later, he’s still installing and maintaining heating and cooling systems and still loving it. “With me, it’s just getting into the field and having a chance to learn different things, plus work with my hands and be outside,” he says. “Most of the time, those are the most interesting things about it that I enjoy.” He also appreciates that the work includes construction, plumbing, electrical work and even computer technology, with all the diagnostic tools. Nov/Dec 2021
