Dear Diary,
So yeah, sitting on the bus again this morning… just staring out the window. School’s been cooked lately, hey. Like everyone else just seems to get it—forgotten languages, poetry, all that boring stuff—and I’m just sitting there thinking, “When am I ever going to need this?”
Anyway, there was this folded bit of paper on the seat next to me.
“Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s”
When you’ve got like $3 to your name, free sounds pretty good. So, I started reading it.
Turns out there’s over 130 different things you can train in, and you actually get paid while you’re learning.
I could use a new iPhone, Xbox, Air Jordans. School’s all learning and no earning—if anything you’re just losing on lunch every day.
They were talking about jobs in construction, manufacturing, cars, even community stuff. Like proper, real jobs. Real money. And apparently heaps of people are already doing it—tens of thousands. That’s honestly wild.
Then I kinda started daydreaming, not gonna lie. Like, what if I became a chippy? Building houses and that. They roll around with a new Hilux every couple of years. Not just sitting inside one all day at school, but actually making it. Could even have my own business one day—“(My Name) & Co.
Builders.” Sounds pretty sick. Rock up with a tool belt, know exactly what you’re doing… no guessing.
Or maybe painting and decorating. The note said something about finishing a job and actually being proud of what you’ve done at the end. I rate that.
Starting with something plain and turning it into something that looks unreal. Way better than finishing a worksheet and just getting told, “Oi, don’t forget your name.”
Even plumbing popped into my head. Bit gross maybe, but also kinda important, yeah? Like if something breaks, people actually need you. No one’s stressing over missing gender studies notes, but a broken crapper? That’s chaos.
It also said small businesses are getting help to take on apprentices. Imagine working somewhere where everyone knows you, not just being “that kid in the back corner.” Actually learning something useful for a change.
And there was this bit about someone who started at 15 and made a whole career out of it. Fifteen! That’s literally me. Meanwhile I’m stuck trying to work out why willy shake a spear even exists.
Best part though—no massive debt or anything. Just working, learning, getting better as you go. Wads of cash while I’m still at home.
By the time my stop came up, I folded the paper back up and chucked it in my bag. For once I wasn’t totally dreading school. Not like I was pumped for it either, but… I dunno.
Had this thought stuck in my head: Maybe school’s not the only way to get somewhere.
Maybe there’s something out there where it won’t feel like a prison sentence.
Something real. Something I can go “Yeah… I did that.”
I want to be an apprentice!
Chitchat Newspaper. April 2026.