{
  "id": 13392863,
  "title": "I used to feel embarrassed about graduating from a trade school. But now my career is safe from AI.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/i-used-to-feel-embarrassed-about-graduating-from-a-trade-school-but",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-10T11:07:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/trade-school-instead-college-career-ai-safe-2026-10"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sade Slack, a 38-year-old surgical technician from California, chose trade school over a four-year college and now feels secure in her career from AI. Despite her initial embarrassment at not attending college, Slack's decision to pursue an 18-month surgical technology program paid off when she landed a job without student loan debt. The job involves hands-on skills that AI cannot replace, such as anticipating the needs of surgeons and responding quickly in the operating room. While AI may take over administrative tasks, Slack believes that the human instinct to read people and react in real time remains essential in her field. She acknowledges that both traditional college and trade school have their merits, but emphasizes that the choice should be based on what aligns with one's goals and abilities.",
  "summary": "Although I've felt embarrassed about going to a trade school to become a surgical technologist, I know my job can't be taken over by AI.",
  "key_points": [
    "Sade Slack, 38, chose trade school over four-year college.",
    "Surgical technician job secured without student loan debt.",
    "AI cannot replace hands-on skills in her field."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}