When I was graduating from college I felt like I had made a big mistake.
I wasn’t excited about my degree or the career fields that it supposedly empowered me to enter.
I started second-guessing my educational choices before I had even flipped my tassel. Within a few months, I was back in school. This time, I was attending trade school and working towards my official central heating and cooling certification. I quickly realized that working in an office was not for me, and I would be much happier working in a trade where I use my hands each day. I joined the air quality control industry because I knew that there would always be a need for certified HVAC technicians. Everyone in our country is obsessed with indoor air quality control and respiratory health. There is no shortage of people who need central HVAC systems installed, professionally diagnosed, and repaired on an emergency basis. I was happy to become one of the service providers for this important utility industry. However, there are always challenges with any line of work. For me, the most difficult days are arriving at a residence where the homeowner considers himself to be an HVAC expert. Recently, I even had a DIY HVAC expert following me around his house while I made routine Heating and Cooling repairs. I really didn’t need help with changing out the air filter, but he was sure to hover over my shoulder and to provide me with off-base heating and cooling tips.The routine diagnostic appointment took twice as long as necessary, and I’m quite sure he damaged the central HVAC system as soon as I left. In this world of advanced degrees and supposed experts, I really wish that people would let the certified professionals run the show.