A Glass Career

I’m really not sure what I want to be when I grow up. It seems like there is an infinite number of options, and I’m too nervous to make a decision that I might come to regret. I know adults always say it’s easy to change your mind and change your career, but is it really? Switching careers seems like it will take a lot of work and money, especially if any sort of extra education is needed. My mum is a web developer, my dad is a tradesman and my older sister is a lawyer. I clearly have a lot to live up to.

To help me out, my dad suggested I start by figuring out what kind of things I enjoy doing. He asked his good friend, who is apparently very well-regarded in his field, to take me on as an apprentice. His friend is a glazier provider. Melbourne currently has a shortage of expert glaziers, so my dad thinks it will be in high demand moving forward, and therefore a good career option. I think he’s probably right. At the moment, I don’t know a lot about working with glass, but I’ve always received amazing grades in my science and woodwork classes at school, so I have a feeling that I would enjoy it.

My dad took me to visit his friend’s company this morning. I spent a while admiring the workmanship they had on offer, including a lovely stair balustrade and handrails made from glass. To be honest, I had always thought glaziers simply repaired and replaced glass. I didn’t even realise creating amazing things like that was in their job description or skill set! When my dad’s friend came to greet us, he explained that glass balustrades can be made to even the most stringent safety regulations, and are often made to match the stairs and create a modern look in the home. It seems like a lot of fun. I’ll have to think carefully about choosing this as a career.