One of the youngest participants in the Praxis program, Charles Porges, was just hired on full-time at his business partner, even though he’s not even halfway through the apprenticeship.
No one, Charles included, assumed someone straight out of high school could be doing amazing work in project management and analysis at a growing startup. If you’re not loving and excelling at formal schooling, how can you build a career and succeed in the market? Turns out the opposite is more often true. The academic-focused world tends to devalue what the market values and vice-versa.
Charles’ story is inspiring to me. Not because he got a job without the debt and waste, but because he’s happy and fulfilled in a challenging, meaningful work environment. That’s what it’s all about.
I’ll let him tell the story. Here’s what Charles shared with the Praxis group:
“Yesterday was my first day of working full-time at my business partner.
Words cannot express how ecstatic I am to be in the position that I currently am. Every single day of work is extremely valuable for both my business partner and myself. Not to mention, I believe deeply in the product, and my boss is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. Every one of my interactions with him has been both positive and meaningful.
This time about one year ago, I was in online high school, dreading every second I spent in front of my computer. My days were filled with meaningless assignments, time-wasting projects, and a feeling of hopelessness.
And not too long before that, I was in public high school. I felt like I was in a prison for forty hours a week, and on parole when I had to complete hours upon hours of homework. Most teachers were up to par with your average DMV worker, and almost none of my peers shared my ambition or intellectual curiosity. I was nothing short of depressed, and there were many days where I wished I simply didn’t have to wake up in the morning.
Ever since I joined Praxis, I’ve felt like I have been living a different life. Not only am I free from the cage of state-mandated education, but I know that every action I’m taking is for the purpose of creating a better version of myself. My Praxis advisers have been instrumental to my success in the program so far, and I would like to thank them for all of their guidance. I do not know where I would be without this program.
I only wish that I could talk to my younger self and tell him that there is another way!”
If you want to apprentice with a startup, get coaching and rigorous personal development, and learn by doing, let’s talk about Praxis. Whether you’re coming out of highschool like Charles, in college and wilting, or have a degree but aren’t happy with your career prospects, we can help.