Proud mother and proud carpenter
Maja Torp is the mother of Gustav, who was trained as a carpenter at Techcollege in October 2024. And it was no surprise to Maja that Gustav ended up as a carpenter. He has always been practical and it was therefore obvious that he chose a vocational education where there was the opportunity to combine theory with practice.
Basic courses gave respect for other education programs
When Gustav started at Techcollege, he started on basic course 1 in the field of Electricity, Construction and Energy. This is the field of study you choose if you are, for example, considering an education as an electrician, bricklayer, building painter or carpenter. During the basic course, the carpentry profession quickly caught Gustav's attention, and there was no doubt that this was the path he should follow.
Maja has clearly noticed that the opportunity to start a basic course with other students who later choose other professions has been a good opportunity for Gustav. It has given him insight into other crafts and at the same time given him the opportunity to create a larger network:
“The basic course gave him respect for the other subjects because he learned more about what the others do in their education and in their crafts. They will work closely together in the labor market, and that cooperation starts already during the education. There is great cohesion between the different subjects.”
Speak up about the subject
When Gustav was still considering which education to choose, Maja was on the sidelines. She knows him very well, and therefore had no doubt about how she could best support him before and during his education – namely by being interested in what he was doing and acknowledging it.
Maja emphasizes that as a parent, you see the importance of exactly the education your child shows interest in. And that you don't encourage your child to follow your own interests, but instead be curious and follow the child's own initiative:
“Now I have a university education, I have a cand.scient.adm. and a master's in management, and if I try to persuade Gustav to go in that direction, I know that it would be a path paved with defeat, because it doesn't interest him and it wouldn't give him a working life that was particularly attractive to him. Just as I'm not very good at the practical things that he is really good at.”
Maja's advice is therefore to remember to be open to the many opportunities that exist in terms of education and career, to be open to where your child fits in best, and to remember that it is not only about how they do in the education itself, but also how their working life will be afterwards.
Techcollege gave a helping hand
During Gustav's education, there has also been support from Techcollege, and Maja has no doubt that this has increased his enjoyment of school.
“I think there has been good support along the way. My son has never said that he didn't want to go to school. Techcollege has welcomed them well, and I think that makes many people naturally want to attend school.”
The interaction between school and apprenticeship in a company has certainly also been an advantage, and Maja believes that this interaction has both provided better insight into how to transform theory into practice, but also ensured that the students do not become so school-weary.
"In some programs, you're at school all the time. There may be many who are a little tired of school after a long elementary school period, and I think that the interaction between school and practice means that you get something from both, so you don't get completely bored."
She believes that it is a good way to try out the subject and have it in your hands before you graduate and enter the job market. At the same time, she is sure that young people find meaning in learning better when they have this interaction between theory and practice, and are therefore more motivated to go to school.
During Gustav's education, there has also been support from Techcollege, and Maja has no doubt that this has increased his enjoyment of school.
“I think there has been good support along the way. My son has never said that he didn't want to go to school. Techcollege has welcomed them well, and I think that makes many people naturally want to attend school.”
The interaction between school and apprenticeship in a company has certainly also been an advantage, and Maja believes that this interaction has both provided better insight into how to transform theory into practice, but also ensured that the students do not become so school-weary.
"In some programs, you're at school all the time. There may be many who are a little tired of school after a long elementary school period, and I think that the interaction between school and practice means that you get something from both, so you don't get completely bored."
She believes that it is a good way to try out the subject and have it in your hands before you graduate and enter the job market. At the same time, she is sure that young people find meaning in learning better when they have this interaction between theory and practice, and are therefore more motivated to go to school.
Everyone is needed.
Maja has no doubt that there is a place for - and a need for - everyone in the labor market, and that as a parent, you can best guide your child to find their place among the many educations by being curious, interested, and talking about the subjects:
“Be interested and acknowledge, speak up for the profession. I think it is extremely important for our young people that we speak up for all educations. Everyone is needed.”
Maja is currently a member of the Aalborg City Council and is the director of a fertility industry association. In her private life, she is the mother of three children - a 23-year-old son who will soon graduate as a cand.merc.aud., a 21-year-old daughter who is studying to be a nurse, and Gustav, 21, who has just completed his apprenticeship as a carpenter from Techcollege. Gustav has just started his first job and is very happy about it.
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