As the class of 2025 prepares for the leap into life after high school, Penelope Masotti, a high school senior, is charting a less traditional course. With a passion for cosmetology and a pragmatic view of the future, she is opting for trade school, joining a growing wave of Gen Z students redefining what higher education looks like. Masotti’s choice aligns with what experts are calling the rise of the “Toolbelt Generation,” according to a recent National Public Radio story. Faced with skyrocketing tuition costs and mounting student debt, as well as being a part of the largest graduating class ever recorded (about 3.9 million), many 2025 Gen Zer’s are opting for trade schools that offer financial relief and job stability.
