Both my kids are on the college path... as their high school culture still plays upon the old adages of a degree being the be all end all. One is in 1st year, one will start in 2027.
Both my kids work hard, but it's a supply and demand world and the supply of average college grads greatly exceeds the number of good tradespeople. I've been absolutely clear that unless they're ready to really hustle through school and their early working years, they are not going to have the lifestyle they have now.