Two years ago when Ron Ewing graduated from high school, he bought himself a truck as a graduation present ... and paid cash.

Last November, after a little more than a year of post-secondary education, he had saved enough money to put a down payment on a house.

Although this young man had just turned 19, he already owned a truck and a home. What he didn't own was debts. He had absolutely zero student loans and no other debts other than his mortgage.

So how did he accomplish all this?

First, he discovered what he really loved to do (metal work), then he got a two week work experience opportunity with the Foundry, a company that hires a lot of welders, machinists and tool and die makers. That June, they offered him a summer job as a labourer and in September, he registered in the Secondary School Apprenticeship program, a program that offers a full semester's credit for 480 hours of apprenticeable work. Finally, he worked hard and graduated five months early with a $1,000 scholarship.

Of course, all of this is easier said than done but any average student could do the same.

Studies tell us that between 70 and 90 percent of high school students expect to go on to university and 80 % of parents have similar expectations, but in fact, only 15 percent of BC students go directly to university and about the same to college. So what about the other 70%?

Ewing struggled for words when he talked about how other students -- not his friends -- look at the trades. First he said trades oriented students were "discriminated against". Then he said that was too "harsh" a word and suggested they were "looked down upon," but that didn't seem quite right to him either.

The fact is apprenticeship and technical training is still not a first choice among today's youth. Yet 60% of all new jobs are in the trades and technology fields and 95% of employers are already reporting difficulty recruiting skilled workers.

Add to that the fact that today's average BC tradesperson is 48 years old, approaching retirement, and you can see the future looks bright for any young tradesperson.

"At least 5 or 6 guys in my shop will be retiring in the next five years," Ewing reports, "that's about half the shop and I see the same sort of thing when I go into the mills."

For those who don't know, unlike most other forms of post-secondary education, when you enter an apprenticeship, you earn while you learn. Apprentices get 80% of their training on the job -- that's paid work -- and 20% in school.

Each year during his four-year apprenticeship as a machinist, Ewing spends five to seven weeks at BCIT. He gets a full salary while in class and the Industry Training and Apprenticeship Commission pays 100 percent of his tuition.

"I can't say I'm pumped every day when I go to work," Ewing acknowledges, "but it is something I'm really interested in. It seems more like a hobby than a job."

When asked how much he was paid as a Secondary School Apprentice while going to school, Ewing ducked the question. "Well above minimum wage," was all he would say with a knowing grin.

"You must have been quite a saver," I probed again. "Apparently," he chuckled.

"I see you have three buddies sharing your house with you," I probed once more. "My mortgage payments are pretty small," he replied, eyes sparkling.

When asked about the opportunities lying before him, Ewing smiled again. It was the kind of smile any parent would love to see on their son or daughter's face.

For more information about the Secondary School Apprenticeship program contact Kathy Reynes at 753-4074.