I skipped college and became a boatbuilder. My friends who aren't in trade jobs envy me.

Thu, 08/01/2024 - 06:02

Clémentine Mollier, wearing a hard hat and fluorescent vest, standing in front of metal construction beams. — Clémentine Mollier works at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in England.
National Museum of the Royal Navy.

After deciding against a traditional college path, Clémentine Mollier became a boatbuilder.
She works on wooden boats and is the only one among her close friends in a trade job.
She said she sees a future in her career, even though it's niche.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Clémentine Mollier, a 32-year-old shipwright living in Portsmouth, England. Business Insider verified her employment with documentation. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I grew up in France. After finishing high school, I decided to travel instead of going to university.