I did heavy construction with my dad doing concrete since 5, and couldn't get a job anywhere after high school. Had to work for myself for a while before I could get a job anywhere else.
Similar here. Learned a lot of useful skills from the old man :D . Remember those "Affirmative Action" years? I was bypassed on 2 job applications after I aced their mechanical aptitude tests because I am not of the female persuasion. Took the apprenticeship test for the Operating Engineers and had 2 job offers before I was fully signed up with the Engineers. Retired @ 60 with a very lucrative pension from those skills acquired.
