Deep in the hollows of Madison County, Nick Marmalejo sat on a rock beside a 19th-century log cabin and talked about why he left a career in education to pursue his dream of renovating old buildings.
“There was always this creeping feeling that my soul was atrophying,” said Marmalejo, 46, a husband and father of five who worked nine years as a high school history teacher and guidance counselor. “I got enchanted by the idea of living an entirely different life, restoring cabins and working with my hands in a more adventurous life.”
The “souls of men” is a theme that Marmalejo referred to frequently, as did author Matthew Crawford in his bestselling book, “Shopclass as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work.” Crawford, who has a doctorate in political philosophy from the University of Chicago, quit his job at a think tank to open a motorcycle repair shop in Richmond. In “Shopclass,” he encourages young men to nurture their souls by pursuing work in the trades instead of taking the traditional college path to a white-collar career.
“That’s the future in my mind,” said Marmalejo, who attends St. John Bosco Church in Woodstock with his family. “Being able to provide for your family, seeing the work of your hands, and having that sense of accomplishment is essential for any young man.”
Although Ian Doerrer took academics seriously as a homeschooler in Alexandria, he knew his career path would be different. “I’ve been fixing things and building stuff since I was in the fifth grade,” said Ian, 19, who earned an automotive diagnosis and repair certification at Northern Virginia Community College. “By my freshman year of high school I realized that this could be a career path and I didn’t have to go to college.”
Ian was confident enough to relocate to Dallas, where he’s pursuing his goal of opening his own auto repair shop. He credits his parents, Leigha and Paul Doerrer, parishioners of St. Rita Church in Alexandria, for encouraging him to forge his own way.
“My husband and I both recognize that most four-year degrees have been oversold,” said Leigha. “You come out with a mountain of debt and you might be making less than the welder or plumber down the street. A lot of people are just like cogs in the wheel of an office job and Ian was adamant that he did not want to sit at a desk all day.”
The broader job market has increasingly stalled for recent college graduates according to The Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, the results were overwhelming in a recent diocesan survey gauging interest in a potential vocational high school focused on tradework. Respondents were nearly unanimous with 92% in favor of such an enterprise, according to the survey conducted May 22-June 8. Diocesan officials plan to launch a follow-up survey later this month.
“If Ian would’ve had an opportunity to go to a trade school in a Catholic environment, that would have been a game changer,” said Leigha.
Ian thinks many teenagers feel pressured to attend college, and he has some advice for parents who may be skeptical about their sons pursuing a career in the trades. “This has brought me closer to who I am and brought me closer to my faith,” he said. “If your son wants to fix and build things, and doesn’t want to go to college, give it a shot. He’ll be a happier guy at the end of the day.”
Abandoning the office cubicle for a career working with his hands has made a profound impact on Marmalejo. “I once heard a guy say, ‘I’m old, but I’m still useful,’ ” he said. “It points to our hearts as men to always be of use. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard on your body and your mind. But being able to accept that and navigate through it gives you such a feeling of value.”
