English Title: Success Without Loving Books! A Parent's "1+3+4" Vocational Path for Their Child, from Xiangshang Junior High to an HVAC Career

Junior High Graduation Choices: Vocational Education vs. Traditional Academics – Finding the Right Path for Your Child

Here's the English translation for: [閱讀本文的繁體中文版]

At a child's crossroads of growth, parental guidance is paramount. When my son graduated from Taichung Xiangshang Junior High School, he faced a dilemma many families encounter: to embark on the traditional academic path or to forge a new route, opting for vocational specialization?

「English: Navigating the crucial decision: Traditional high school or vocational specialization?」

It’s Okay Not to Love Studying; Professional Skills Are the Real Competence for the Future!

My son genuinely wasn't fond of traditional schooling, often struggling with academic pressure. Yet, I deeply understand that in the future society, academic degrees are no longer the sole standard. "A specialized skill" and "professional competence" are the true foundations for success. I often told him, "It's okay not to love studying, but you must have the ability to ensure you have choices in your future."

During his junior high years, the pressure from the Comprehensive Assessment Program (CAP, Taiwan's standardized exam for junior high graduates) coupled with the learning style of the 108 Curriculum Guidelines (Taiwan's current education framework) meant he was constantly grappling with after-school tutoring and homework, often until late at night, leaving him physically and mentally exhausted. As a mother, seeing his less-than-ideal grades, I knew forcing him into traditional academics wasn't the best solution. Instead, I needed to help him find a path that genuinely interested him and held promising prospects.

Insight into Trends: Post-Pandemic, HVAC Becomes a Rigid Demand; Cold Chain and Smart Manufacturing Talents are in High Demand!

「English: Experts at work in a specialized cold storage and refrigeration environment.」

At the time, my son was still hesitant about vocational schools, worrying about how his peers might view him. But I patiently analyzed the situation for him:

 * Skills are the greatest future competitiveness: Practical skills will be the stepping stone to future employment.

 * Stable job opportunities and high demand: Mastering key technologies ensures you won't struggle to find work.

 * With practical skills, you gain autonomy in education, employment, and entrepreneurship: With true competence, the power of choice in life's future is in your hands, ensuring you won't be eliminated by society.

Especially during the pandemic, I keenly observed the global supply chain restructuring. Industries like refrigeration and air conditioning (HVAC), automation control, and smart manufacturing saw their demands surge instead. Whether it's vaccine cold chains, food preservation, medical equipment, or smart energy-efficient buildings and automated production lines, all rely on the support of HVAC and automation control technologies. More importantly, these professional skills won't be replaced by AI; instead, they will be upgraded through AI integration, ensuring continuous growth in talent demand! This makes the HVAC industry a reliably profitable and essential sector.

The 1+3+4 Vocational Progression Path: Xiangshang Junior High, Taichung Industrial High School, and National Chin-Yi University of Technology – Paving a Clear Career Route

「English: A structured vocational pathway: Completing basic education, gaining practical skills, and deepening professional expertise.」

Based on these considerations, my son and I collaboratively planned this practical and stable vocational progression path:

 * 1: Xiangshang Junior High School – Completion of basic education, where vocational exploration began to bud.

 * 3: Taichung Industrial High School – Entry into specialized HVAC learning, starting to accumulate practical skills and receiving guidance for obtaining certifications.

 * 4: National Chin-Yi University of Technology (NCUT) Industry-Academia Program – Deepening professional skills, entering industry internships early, and graduating with rich experience and professional networks.

This path might not be the "star school" route in the eyes of traditional parents, but it laid a stable and practical road for my son. NCUT's Industry-Academia Program allows him to gain valuable experience, connections, and skills through industry internships while still studying.

Parents' Wish: For Our Children to Have the "Freedom of Choice" in the Future

「English: Open discussion and shared planning are key to finding the right path for your child.」

Ultimately, a parent's wish is simple: we hope our children will have the freedom to choose their future, to pursue work they are interested in and that offers good prospects, rather than being limited to a single option. This vocational path in refrigeration and air conditioning is precisely the choice we made together and deeply believe we will be grateful for in the future. It has opened a door for my child, leading to a future full of potential and endless possibilities.

Would you like to know more about vocational education options? Or do you have similar parent-child education stories to share? Feel free to leave a comment below and let's exchange ideas!

If this article has been helpful to you, please share it with friends who might need it!