No one said it had to be a “dream job” (star quarterback in the NFL - dancer on Broadway). It just needs to be something they like and are good at. Just liking it isn’t sufficient. Just being good at it can work, but can also lead to a bit of stress and other related issues. It’s way too common to see a lot of substance abuse, family issues (from stress), or even depression/suicide when one is in a job they dislike even if they are good at it. This goes right along with money not being everything. Too many find that out after they are in a career they didn’t have to be in.
It’s rare for me to see a student at school who can’t find something self-supporting that they both like and are good at. Self-supporting doesn’t have to mean earning a quarter million per year.
How college, trade school, or anything else fits in then gets worked into the equation.