Apprenticeships in my book offer opportunities for those who are motivated. In an ideal situation the student (apprentice) and expert develop a system that benefits both of them equally. The student offers his/her time and work in exchange for the expert teaching him/her how the work is done. The more the teacher invests in the apprentice, the better the quality of the work produced. As opposed to some internships which are run with the attitude of “the student should be grateful just to be in the presence of such brilliant minds,†the term apprenticeship connotes a mutual respect and a near symbiotic relationship.
All this said, I cannot deny that at this time in my life and taking into consideration the economic state of the US, a full blown traditional career may not be available or, for that matter, important to me. At this point, I enjoy being able to learn new skills and experience new things for what they are. If along the way I stumble upon my “true calling†or something I can see myself pursuing for a long time, all the better. If not, well, I’ll have some great stories.
