Sarah Hernholm joined us on the “Get Into IT” live broadcast last week, and within the first five minutes she said something that made everyone sit up a little straighter: “I do not want you graduating with six figures of debt. You’re just going to go from one prison to another.”
The founder of WIT (Whatever It Takes), Forbes contributor, and former classroom teacher spent 40 minutes dismantling assumptions about the “right” path to career success. And if you’ve been wrestling with whether traditional college makes sense for you or someone you care about, this conversation landed at exactly the right time.
The ROI Question Nobody Wants to Ask
Sarah got real about something most people tiptoe around: the cost of college versus what you actually get out of it. “It’s irresponsible not to have the conversation about cost and ROI,” she said. “There used to be a time when people would say, ‘Yes, but it’s (this name) school, so it’s worth the debt.’ I would say there’s a shift happening now.”
She’s not anti-college. She went to college herself (theater degree, fully paid for by her parents, which she acknowledges was a massive privilege). But she’s watched too many young people make choices based on what looks good at the dinner party rather than what sets them up for the future they actually want.
Trade Schools Aren’t Plan B Anymore
Here’s where Sarah added a strong perspective: “Just because for some reason at some time in our lifetime, trade schools were seen as, ‘Well, if you don’t get into college, I guess do a trade,’ it was almost said with like… something bad.” She paused. “I’m looking at the income of people doing trades and they’re making more than some people that come out with a four-year degree.”
The stigma around trades is fading, especially with Gen Z. But parents still feel the pressure. Sarah’s advice? “Don’t make that (path) seem like it’s not good enough. I think many people take a path that’s not right for them and they wake up later in life and go, ‘I wish I would have just done the damn thing.'”
For anyone exploring IT careers, this hits home. Certifications and hands-on training compete successfully against computer science degrees all the time. Employers care about what you can do, not just where you studied.
Let Kids Be Kids (But Give Them Summer Jobs)
When asked about getting parents and kids aligned on career plans, Sarah pushed back on the premise. “We need to let children just have a childhood. I am not doing what I thought I would be doing when I was a kid. I’m also not doing what I thought I would be doing in college. I’m also not doing what I thought I would be doing in my 20s.”
But she had one strong recommendation: summer jobs. “I don’t care if it’s a two-day thing at an ice cream shop or if you kick off a babysitting gig in your neighborhood, you learn so much from those jobs.” She said the difference between kids who’ve had that responsibility and those who haven’t is night and day.
The lesson? Showing up on time. Dealing with difficult customers. Understanding that work isn’t optional. Simple stuff that apparently isn’t so simple anymore.
The AI Conversation Parents Are Having
Sarah said the biggest question she gets from parents right now is about AI. “They’re confused. AI is like the devil in high school—it’s cheating. And yet when they look into college, there are majors in AI. They’re like, ‘Wait a second. How is my child supposed to be prepared if they’re not even learning how to use it responsibly in high school?'”
Her take is straightforward: get literate in it. She uses AI daily and even created a platform called Witty for her teams at WIT. “Don’t let something be scary. Just look into it and be curious about it.” She’s seen AI help people offload tasks they used to hire for, freeing up resources to invest in different types of talent.
For IT professionals at any level, AI fluency isn’t optional anymore. It’s just part of the toolkit.
Three Steps If College Isn’t Your Path
We asked Sarah for practical advice if someone’s watching and thinking college isn’t their route. Her answer was honest and actionable:
Be honest about why. Don’t skip college just because. Really examine whether it’s not right for you, or if you can find a way to do it without debt (community college then transfer, scholarships, etc.).
Take action today. “We can’t just say, ‘I’m not going to do college, I’m going to do this other thing,’ and then not be making steps toward that. Sign up for certifications. Create a LinkedIn profile. Reach out to people already in your field.”
Build self-confidence through follow-through. “Every time you say you’re going to do something and then you don’t do it, you teach yourself that when you give your word, it doesn’t really matter.”
She also dropped this truth bomb: “It’s more comfortable to stay in the conversation of what you would want to do instead of actually doing it.” Ouch. But fair.
The Bottom Line
Sarah wrapped up by talking about what gives her hope when working with teenagers. Despite schedules that start at 6:30 a.m. and don’t end until 10 p.m., despite a system that doesn’t reward creativity or mastery, they still show up. They still believe they can build the life they want after school ends.
“They’re getting everything right,” she said, “because they’re still willing to try and they still believe in themselves.”
Whether you’re considering a career change, helping someone navigate their options, or just questioning the traditional path, Sarah’s message is clear: make choices for your future self, not for the approval of people at the dinner party. Take action today. And don’t accumulate debt trying to impress people who won’t matter in five years.
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Watch the full conversation with Sarah Hernholm on our Get Into IT Live series, which airs every Friday at noon.
