Young woman aspires to become a plumber after deciding college is a waste of time, stands up to her mom's objection to the chosen trade: ‘A plumber is a man's job’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jul 15, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

When we were kids, our parents always told us that they wanted us to follow our dreams. To find what it is that we are most passionate about, and do it when we are adults. 

Yet, as we grow up, we realize that our parents never really meant those words. They aren't interested in their children following their dreams; they just want their kids to have a stable career, so they'd make enough money to stand on their own two feet. Actually, usually those things do not go hand in hand with our childhood dreams, so our parents end up encouraging us to do the exact opposite of following our dreams. They want us to leave those dreams behind as we pursue a "normal" career, a serious and respectable profession.

It makes sense for parents to push their kids for stable careers because, at the end of the day, they want their kids to be well off, to be fine on their own. Yet, it is hard not to resent some parents for how they end up dictating their kids' lives. 

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  • The young woman in the story below is still unsure what she wants to do with her life, but she has a few options at hand. The problem is, her mom disapproves of her choices and wants her to go to college instead.

    Keep scrolling to read how the conversation went and what happened next.

  • 01

    I don’t know what to do with my life.

    19:55 Snapchat 1 M Mimi > ¡Message Today 19:42 What have you decided to do about school or work? = • 40 Finding a plumbing internship What???? You are capable of so much more. Why? Good money No Khris. Not a good decision. You need to get it together Whats wrong with plumbing You have so much potential. You need to be in school. That's a man's job. I don't want to go to school. College is a waste of time and money I'll never have. + iMessage ท
    via Ready_to_EN-
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10529426432
    via nomadsoulphotos

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 03
    I'm fresh out of High School with an A/B average (3.8 GPA) and have no plan for what I want to do with my life yet, but I will go ahead and say
    via Ready_to_EN-
  • 04
    that school is not for me. I don't want to go to college. My family members have been pestering me with the "you have to have a plan” speech.
    via Ready_to_EN-
  • 05
    My mom's side of the family comes from a long line of military members, so of course, they regularly push that enlisting is option for me.
    via Ready_to_EN-
  • 06
    I took my ASVAB and got a 56, took it up to the Air Force's office and the woman brushed me off like the score wasn't good enough and she didn't
    via Ready_to_EN-
  • 07
    want me there. I'd been trying to get a hold of them for a while, so when I finally got an appointment at the office it did kind of rub me the wrong
    via Ready_to_EN-
  • 08
    way. I never wanted the military to be my first option anyways, so it wasn't too much of a bother. I had been set on going to mortuary school, but
    via Ready_to_EN-
  • 09
    I did a little research of my own, and in my state, mc cians don't make a livable wage (imo) unless you own your own fu...eral home on top of that, and I just don't have
    via Ready_to_EN-
  • 10
    the funds for that. I have been very recently looking for plumbing internships because I can't find an apprentice class that isn't fully booked. I think
    via Ready_to_EN-
  • 11
    it's a good idea. As far as I know, plumbers never run dry of a job and they get paid relatively well, and I enjoy hands on work. I'm tired of my family shutting down my ideas
    via Ready_to_EN-
  • 12
    and telling me it's “a man's job” instead of at least trying to be the slightest bit of supportive. I already honestly have no will to really do anything, so I'm still just
    via Ready_to_EN-
  • 13
    working the same part-time job I've been at for almost 3 years now, but I'm still actively applying for higher waged jobs and looking for trade programs I'm interested in. All
    via Ready_to_EN-
  • 14
    in all, it's just so frustrating just barely passing a month from being graduated and having absolutely no support system or anyone to turn to.
    via Ready_to_EN-
  • 15
    Cheezburger Image 10529426176
    via Vika_Glitter

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 16
    dzjay Obtaining a Master Plumber License takes many years, the younger you get started the better.
    via dzjay
  • 17
    alternageek A) Plumbers are all genders. B) Get yourself involved you might be late for this year's batch of apprenticeships but make the connections network. A union one will pay.more than non-union.
    via alternageek
  • 18
    C) Once you've got your license, after 5 years you can go into government work like being an inspector. Monday- Friday 8-5. Weekends off, etc. Take your tests move up you can eventually become a director of a building dept.
    via alternageek
  • 19
    Alarming-Cut7764 What exactly do these people mean by "you have so much more potential", potential for what? They just think college and thats it.
    via Alarming-Cut7764
  • 20
    Illustrious-Fox8488 plumbers make over 6figures wth are they talking about?
    via Illustrious-Fox8488
  • 21
    Fimeg Ngl, tech ain't doing hot, doctors gonna be replaced... ya know what's not? Plumbers.
    via Fimeg
  • 22
    ImportanceBetter6155 Your mom is uninformed unfortunately
    via ImportanceBetter6155

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family drama plumber employee job work reddit story workplace family trade daughter Reddit blue collar mom women employment
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