Larry Martin doesn’t have a problem attracting attention. He appeared on a Harley, his beard in a ponytail, his sunglasses hiding a look that one would assume to be a glare of intimidation, or at the very least passive disapproval of what he may be observing around him.  Yet, a few minutes of conversation with him and you would discover a singer/songwriter, an educator, a loving and devoted husband and father, and the type of guy you immediately hope will find room for you in his stable of friends.  Larry is the type of guy that is easy to have a conversation with, both because he is genuinely interested in you, and because what he says is engaging, intelligent, and intentional.  That natural interest and curiosity has translated into a career in education, one he came into after a long career in various trades, though recognizing his ability to patiently make the complex simple makes you wonder how he was ever anything but a teacher. Today, he works for Princeton High School, teaching Automotive Technology and shaping young men and women into productive societal contributors.  "I want these kids to leave here with more than just the ability to change a tire,” he says. “I want them to understand what it takes to be a good employee, to show up every day, and to work hard."

High School students face an ever present pressure to attend college and pursue a degree, much to the neglect of more hands-on trades.  For Mr. Martin trades education isn’t merely an alternative to higher education, it is a path to a fulfilling and lucrative career that doesn’t carry a burden of student loan debt.  His work at Princeton High is helping reshape the conversation around what success looks like for the students he works with as well as the community at large.

Larry recognizes and helps explain the concept that education is important, but if the point of education is reduced from the pursuit of knowledge to the mere attaining of credentials it forfeits a great portion of its value.  These beliefs have been shaped by his own experience as well as his appetite for reading, including books like Matthew Crawford’s “Shop Class as Soulcraft” and Robert M. Pirsig’s “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” make Larry a true philosopher mechanic.  A great deal of intellectual and psychological fulfillment can be found in a plumbing system that doesn’t leak or an engine that starts up and Mr. Martin enjoys helping students discover this for themselves.  It comes as no surprise while listening to him plumb the depths of the value of work to learn that he is also a talented songwriter and an accomplished musician.  Why wouldn’t this Harley riding, wrench turning, Automotive Aristotle be a poet as well?

The increasing demand for college degrees in fields that previously did not require them has led to credential inflation. This phenomenon results in many college graduates working in jobs that do not utilize their degree, contributing to underemployment. According to the New York Federal Reserve Bank, about one-third of all college graduates are underemployed, meaning they're employed below the value of their degrees.  Other recent studies have found that perhaps as many as 50% of college graduates are currently working in jobs that don’t require a degree at all.  These trends underscore the importance of exploring alternative career paths, such as skilled trades, that don’t demand a traditional four year degree and Larry Martin and his colleagues are helping young people in Princeton do just that.

Larry readily admits that his work with his students has changed his outlook on the younger generation. “There's some great kids today. Do not fall into the trap of thinking we’re doomed.”

Every generation has thought that. And this generation will rise and do great, great things that we would never have believed possible.” It is this outlook that makes him such an effective educator, recognizing the desire to learn and the ability to achieve that he observes in his students and then rising to fill the knowledge gaps so that they have the tools they need to succeed.

While it may be true that society undervalues hands-on “blue collar” work in favor of higher education Larry Martin’s perspective serves as a wise reminder that true success comes from finding purpose in what you do whether your work requires more from your hands or your mind.  “You can be successful in whatever path you choose, as long as you’re dedicated, focused, and willing to put in the work,” says Larry. His dedication to reshaping how students think about their future is helping them build careers that are both financially stable and deeply rewarding. The trades, as Larry demonstrates, are not a fallback—they are a path to a successful, satisfying life.

These few words can hardly do justice to our conversation, so take the time to listen to the Collin County Podcast to get to know Larry Martin yourself.