I went to Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School for four years. It was one of the best choices I have ever made. There are many reasons to go to a vocational high school. They are great schools that have many benefits. Here are nine reasons to consider going to a vocational high school.

1. You learn a lot of skills.

Going to a vocational high school teaches you many skills in many different areas of expertise. You explore many different shops and get a small taste of each of them. You might learn how take blood pressure in medical, get dents out in auto body, and use Photoshop in graphics. Regardless of which shop you choose in the end you develop lots of skills in all different fields along the way.

2. You get to decide what you want to do early in life.

Unlike typical high school students when you go to a vocational high school you get to explore different career pathways as young as age 15. You end up picking the field you would like to take part in for the next four years of your life. This gives you the opportunity to already decide your future path long before your peers at other schools.

3. You get experience in the trade of your choice.

Not only do you get to pick a certain trade to study for your four years of high school but you get tons and tons of experience in the field. You learn everything and anything there is to know in this field and actually the hands on experience as well.

4. You are better prepared for the future.

Going to a trade school prepares you for your future no matter what path you decide to take. Upon graduation you find yourself ready to enter the real work world. College is also an option as well. You will go into college with more experience and knowledge in your field than anyone else.

5. There's lots of hands on learning.

Hands on learning is a great way to learn. Learning by doing helps you better grasp concepts and fully understand them. It is also a much more interesting alternative to sitting at a desk all day.

6. Shop is like a family.

When you find yourself spending so much time with a group of people you become very close. You develop an inseparable bond that is unlike any other with your peers and your teachers as well.

7. You graduate with certifications.

As you move through the motions of a trade school you learn a lot of important information. You can even obtain some degrees through out your time there. These degrees give you the upper hand upon graduation.

8. Work in the future won't really feel like work.

I worked in a classroom all four years of my high school career. I enjoy working with children so it hasn't ever felt like a chore to me. Also since I had been doing it for so long in school it was almost crazy when I eventually ended up getting paid for it!

9. You'll enjoy every moment at school.

The atmosphere of a vocational school is just different... In a good way! It's just so much fun to be able to go to shop and learn in a hands on way. It's also nice to get a break from academics (you're not totally off the hook you have to learn just as much as regular high schools but in half the time).

Vocational schools are way too often looked down upon and considered just for the "bad kids". Many people also believe you go to a voc school if you don't want to go to college which is also very far from the truth. This isn't the case at all. These kinds of schools have come a long way and it was a privilege to be able to attend one. You should consider attending one too!