The Unknown

I’m sure most of you already know who I am, but I have to say this anyway, my name is Kevin Fisher. A lot of you probably know me as Russel, from the movie “Up” which is a nickname that has stuck with me at least since 8th grade. I know that we’ve pretty much all grown up together, so I am in no position to be giving advice to any of you, I mean I’m a plumber, not a poet. So you may or may not want to take this with a grain of salt. Life is full of unknown possibilities and failures, it all depends on the choices you make.

I wonder where I would be though, if I hadn’t taken the path in life I chose. Let’s say I never worked for my Grandfather, that one summer, for his plumbing and heating business. Would I have even gone into a trade? If so, which one? Before I knew I was going to do plumbing and heating, I was taking Mr. Mac’s classes and was thinking about becoming a carpenter, a welder, or an auto mechanic, I just knew I didn’t want a boring office/desk job, or really any job that requires you to sit all day, like school. I knew that I wanted to be in a trade, but plumbing wasn’t at the top of my list, yet. Imagine me not being a plumber, I bet you can’t. But after a couple of more summers of working with my father and grandfather, I discovered the heating side of it, and really got elbow-deep into the trade, it was put to the top of my list. So of course when it came time to choose classes for Jr. year, I picked the plumbing and heating LRTC class, and was wary at first, but warmed up to it quickly because we weren’t just doing the same old boring school work like before, we were actually doing things that plumbers actually do, and actually doing work that we could look at the finished product, and be proud. I was glad that I chose the class and I am going to make a career out of it. I didn’t know that going into it, I didn’t think I would be here today, on my way to graduating, working towards getting my plumbing and heating licenses and certifications, and living life after high school. 

It’s been a wake up call recently, real life is in a dead sprint right for us, and there is no stopping it. Whether you’re going to 2-4 year college, or into the workforce, or into a trade school, that’s on you to decide, and what you do after that is also on you. That’s the fun of life, it’s full of unknown possibilities that are based on the choices you make, and whatever the outcome is you just have to face it head-on, even if it’s good or bad. It’s on you to decide what to do with the unknown, but like I said, I’m no poet, nor some sort of superstar student, I’m just a plumber trying to pass high school and get ready for what the rest of life beholds. Whatever that may be, I’m not sure, but I am more confident in that uncertainty than I ever have been before. I’m ready for life after high school and I hope you are too, because it’s coming whether you like it or not, and you’re going to have to face it.

“Question Mark Yield Sign” by One Way Stock is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.