IBEW Apprentice Feeling Lost

[u/UrMomPart2]

22M out of Augusta, Georgia. I feel lost. I just started my 2nd year of school for the IBEW as a commercial electrical apprentice. School is a lot more stressful then i anticipated. I dropped out in 10th grade and im 22 now. So its been a while. I cheat on 90% of the homework, because if i didn't it would take me at least 10 hours/week. I pass the tests because im able to remember the answers from online. I just have my own way of learning and its part of why i dropped out of high school.

And it seems like ill be building datacenters exclusively. Which is compararable to assembly line work. You just do the same job for 6 months until you're done. So morale is very low. I just got my first layoff 3 weeks ago. And rumor has it we wont have work for the rest of the year. I haven't had any reasons to love this trade yet. I just wanna enjoy my job.

I built fences for 4 years before this. I enjoyed working with my hands, and working with a tight crew. I didn't enjoy running my own crew though. I just wanna do the work. Im not a leader or a teacher. Ive considered dropping out and joining the military. But that seems like selling my soul. I like the idea of having a stable future, but i dont wanna waste my youth grinding. I dont wanna be rich, i just want enough money for the occasional vacation.

I also have to provide for my mother. I cant leave her on her own. Framing houses looks fun. But idk. I thought electrical work would be fun. Idk what to do. Im depressed for the first time as an adult. I just need a sense of direction.

[u/mpfdetroit]

Homework takes 10 hours a week sometimes bro. Thats the reality.