If you’re an ambitious DIYer, a homeowner, or just a curious hobbyman, you’ve probably tried your hand at some light carpentry. Immediately upon picking up a block of wood and some tools, it becomes crystal clear why carpentry and woodworking are specialized careers: It’s flippin’ hard! Splinters, carving, measurements, hardware, and multitools are overwhelming at first. Don’t even get me started on varnishing…
This carpenter’s girlfriend didn’t agree, though.
She was a grad student, going into one of her final years of postgraduate school, but she felt that her education—her 9 years of student life after high school—made her somehow better than everyone else. However, considering she was dating a self-made, self-employed carpenter, she should have known that you don’t need a fancy pants degree to make good money in this world. You just need a trade, some talent, and some grit to get started, which is exactly how her boyfriend became so successful.
Why, then, did she belittle his career after he offered to bankroll her education? Who can say, but it’s going to cost her more than this semester’s tuition.
