Feb 25, 2019 By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 3 min read

From trade apprenticeships to specialized training academies, plenty of opportunities are available as far as preparing for careers.

The key is knowing they exist.

“I was always on my academic track in high school, which is why none of this was even presented to me,” Sheri Huffman recalled. “They assumed that I was going to college.”

And that she did, attending a four-year institution and earning a bachelor degree in secondary education. From there, she spent two years substituting before deciding that perhaps she should find something besides teaching.

She found a summer job in landscaping to her liking and decided to go back to school: Community College of Allegheny County, where she added an associate degree in landscape design to her diplomas.

These days, Huffman works as a specialist at Upper St. Clair Township Library. And with her own background in mind, she has organized a program to provide information from various institutions about alternatives to four-year colleges. On the schedule are:

• March 4 – New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, the world’s largest independent information technology training company
• March 11 – Douglas Education Center, a Monessen postsecondary school that prepares students for careers in fields including special-effects makeup, cosmetology, filmmaking, illustration, health care and skilled trades
• March 25 – Bidwell Training Center, which is located in Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood and offers free tuition for Pennsylvania residents with a high school diploma or GED
• April 1 – CCAC, which offers two-year degree programs along with a variety of certificate and continuing-education programs for adults
• April 29 – Dean Institute of Technology, offering associate degrees and diplomas in a variety of trades

The free sessions start at 6:30 p.m. and are held on the library’s third floor.

Huffman is far from alone in her experiences.

“I have several friends who either have a college degree and don’t even use it for what they wanted,” she said. “Or they started at college and thought, this isn’t really what I want to do.”

With the average outlay for an entire run at a four-year college exceeding $100,000, according to the U.S. Department of Education, students have a greater need than ever to make informed decisions.

That’s for the sake of parents, too, as Huffman has heard some of her friends and colleagues lament about their children:

“We spent all this money on our kids’ college, and now we’re in debt. They can’t find a job, and it’s a mess.”

Adults who find themselves in similar situations are invited to attend the library program, as well. So are residents of nearby communities who would like to learn more about the educational options available.

Huffman said that each session will feature presentations of about 20 minutes from representatives of the institutions, followed by plenty of time for questions and answers.

Registration can be made by calling 412-835-5540. For more information, visit www.twpusc.org/library/programs.