IMO, the best thing a healthy, hard working relatively bright young person could do is learn a standard trade and work to build his/her own company. Plumbing, electrical, etc.
Absolutely. Most of those trades are economy-proof and pick just about any spot on the map and you can find work there. Where you live doesn’t have to be dictated by your job.
I get so angry seeing these kids labeled as “dumb” by our public schools (and often even their parents) when they’re usually the smartest (genuinely smart, not book smart) kids I know.