Some Lessons from the Assembly Line”

 
Introduction
“Some Lessons from the Assembly Line” is an article that was written by Andrew
Braaksama. The article focuses on the experiences of Braaksama while he was working in a
factory (Braaksama). He talks about the wages that he earned in the factory and how a college
degree could have given him a better job. He discusses the guilt he felt when he compared
himself to other factory workers who had no opportunity of going to college. He experienced
growth and maturity while working at the factory and it made him different from other students.
He understood the importance of finishing college and getting a degree. The narration of
Braaksama is an indication of why it is important for students to study hard and get their college
degrees.
Wages in the Factory
In the article, Braaksama shows his struggles with the blue-collar job that he got. He
indicates that he could have afforded a better life if he could have been a professional with a
college degree (Braaksama). He felt that his value as a blue-collar worker was not appreciated in
the workplace. Initially, he had thought that as a college student, his knowledge and time were
important, and therefore, he was supposed to be considered and paid more. In one instance, he
stated that “after a particularly exhausting string of 12-hour days at a plastic factory, I remember
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being shocked at how small my check seemed” (Braaskama). Despite this statement, Braaksama
was aware that the overtime he had worked in the factory was more valuable and paying as
compared to other part-time jobs he needed to support the expensive campus lifestyle.
An important idea that Braaksama mentions is about having a degree and being a
professional. He indicates that it can ensure that one has better wages. Based on this argument, it
implies that education is a powerful tool and needs to be used properly (Bhardwaj 27). Long
working hours do not constitute increased wages in blue-collar jobs. Therefore, young people
should explore all the available opportunities before jumping into any of them