Life After 18

10/28/2026

Very cool!!

AMERICA NEEDS MORE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO BUILD THINGS. AND ONE MAJOR COMPANY IS HELPING WORKERS LEARN THE TRADES.

America has a problem that doesn't get talked about enough: there aren't enough skilled workers to keep up with the demand for construction.

Electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians and carpenters are essential to building homes, schools, hospitals and the infrastructure the country depends on.

But the workforce is aging, experienced workers are approaching retirement, and many employers are struggling to fill open positions.

According to Associated Builders and Contractors, the construction industry needed to attract an estimated 349,000 additional workers in 2026 to meet anticipated demand.

Now, companies are looking for ways to help close that gap.

One example is Lowe's Track to the Trades, a program that provides eligible Lowe's employees with tuition-free training for skilled trade careers.

🔧 Participants can explore fields including:

Plumbing

Electrical work

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)

Carpentry

Appliance repair

The program helps workers build foundational knowledge and prepare for entry-level opportunities in the trades without paying tuition for the covered courses.

It's not an automatic job placement or a substitute for every required apprenticeship, certification or license. But it can provide an accessible starting point for people who want to build practical skills and pursue a new career.

For years, many young people were encouraged to view a four-year college degree as the primary path to success. Yet skilled trades can also offer meaningful careers, opportunities for advancement and the chance to earn a living by mastering valuable skills.

America needs people who can design the future—but it also needs people who can wire its buildings, repair its pipes, install its heating systems and construct its homes.

And those skills deserve respect.

A college degree isn't the only path to a good career. Sometimes, the person who knows how to build something is exactly who the country needs.

10/27/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/14nbQgXnXT8/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual – but Jan Nast is working to change that! Have you ever wondered why we spend years in school learning algebra, history, and science, but so little time learning how to navigate the everyday responsibilities of adulthood? That’s exactly the problem ...

10/27/2026

10/26/2026

🇮🇹 FROM SCREENS BACK TO BINDERS: ITALY BANISHES CLASSROOM COMPUTERS FOR PAPER AND PEN 📚💥

Italy is rolling back the digital revolution in classrooms—ditching tablets, banning smartphones, and mandating a return to printed textbooks, paper planners, and handwriting.

Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara signed guidelines requiring physical books, cursive penmanship, and paper-based learning to combat declining literacy and screen addiction.

Here is why Italy is pausing classroom tech and what it signals for education policy.

📊 THE BACK-TO-BASICS MANDATE:
• Device Ban: Smartphones and non-educational tablets are officially barred from primary and middle school classrooms.

• Paper Planners: Students must physically write down assignments in paper diaries instead of checking online portals.

• Cursive & Penmanship: Instruction re-emphasizes manual handwriting and physical note-taking to build memory retention.

• Printed Books First: Schools are prioritizing physical textbooks over digital subscriptions.

🚨 WHY EUROPE IS RETREATINGS FROM TECH:
• Cognitive Retention: Neuroscience shows writing by hand builds stronger memory pathways than typing.

• UNESCO Warnings: International agencies recommend strict limits on classroom tech to prevent focus loss.

• Declining Scores: European nations using all-digital curricula saw noticeable drops in reading comprehension.

💡 THE TAKEAWAY FOR DEGREE HACKERS:
• Handwriting Boosts Performance: Ditching laptop notes during exam prep leads to higher score retention on tests like CLEP.

• Deep Focus Wins: Swapping digital PDF skimming for physical textbooks builds faster mastery.

• Policy Shifts Ahead: Watch for U.S. school districts to follow Europe's lead as screen-free learning gains traction.

Should American schools follow Italy's lead and bring back paper textbooks and cursive?

10/26/2026

Quick reminder, “Life After 18” 4H club is meeting this Tuesday, October 27, 3-4pm.
(Pahrump, NV)

10/25/2026

👍I like the reminder about checking your smoke alarms. ⏰

10/25/2026

👍🥰

message approved ✔️

10/24/2026