The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-11-29
University Column
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

professional and industrial life,
Many because of the present world
situation.
This article is written for the
benefit of ambitious young people
who are cropping about TO find some
channel i'm which TO cast their lives
for national service. In the first
place. there is not an isnoble nor
bad profession among them and any
young person with ambition and
patriotism can feel happy over cast
ing his life in any work that min
istcrs directly to national needs and
AT the same time guarantees COM
petence for himself.
At this point you ask, How can
know what profession should en-
ter?" First, take an inventory OF
your past life. What has been your
surroundings, your opportunities
and previous training? Do you en-
Joy books or do you prefer to work
with things? Are you afraid OF
grease. oil and other things that
soil your hands while working? DO
YOU like to tinker with machinery?
Have YOU ever dreamed Of being
an engineer or following some other
profession where machinery played
the important part? When you
have made complete study along
those lines, then classify somewhat
according to the following program:
agriculture appeals to the person
who likes to work with growing
plants, pigs, chickens, and cattle.
The person who likes to take two
or three boxes Of different kinds OF
soil and plant seeds in them to see
how they will grow; who likes to
live in the out-Of-dOors and cannot
feel happy shut up in a building
during the sunny hours Of the day,
has the temperament of a success
full private farmer or government
agricultural agent.
Carpentry and contracting appeal
TO the person who enjoys making
things from wood. He likes to see
the rough, udressed lumber grow
into a beautiful structure ut for the
habitation of man. He delights to
spend his odd hours in producing
beautiful handmade furniture for
the home he has built with his own
hands. And the assurance Of a good
living that such a profession gives
makes him happy to an unusual
degree. The preparation for such
a life requires about two years Of
application in school.
II the person reading this article
happens to be lady. she does not
have to grieye long over her unfor-
t,nate lot Of being woman. but she
can turn TO three great subjects that
are attracting the world at the pres
ent time, - Home Science. Nursing,
and Commerce. Home Science
should appeal TO the highest in
stincts Of woman. as the highest
compliment that can be paid wOm-
an is that she is building an ideal
home. II she has no tendency to-
ward domestic life, and feels that
she wishes to be a servant Of the
public, then the next great calling
for her to consider is nursing. II
she enjoys waiting on the sick, tying
up wounds and bringing comfort
where pain and distress were wont to
dwell: il she considers ministering
to the great needs OF the body second
only TO ministering TO the soul,
nursing should be the chosen pro-
fession. If the lady has nature
more cold and calculating. more
drawn toward business than to do
nestle lines. stenography and book
keeping hold great attractions for
her. The opportunity of self support
and independence is offered by the
business world. The business pro-
fession offers the same inducements
with far greater opportunities, to
the men.
One cannot think upon the many
avenues open TO the strong. ambi-
tious young American without wish
ing he were five times himself in
order to follow as many professions
at once.
A word with a new meaning has
come into American life since June.
That word is Stacker" We are in
the habit, these days, Of calling
everybody a Stacker who fails TO do
his duty. In the opinion OF the
writer of this article. the person
who sees an opportunity within his
grasp and has the mental power
and the financial ability TO seize that
opportunity, and causes his nation
and himself TO suffer by not doing