Analysis Of Andrew Braaksma's Lessons From The Assembly Line

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In Andrew Braaksma’s essay “Lessons from the Assembly Line” (Braaksma, 2005), he recalls his time as a free-spirited college student that moonlights as an automotive assembly plant worker during summer vacation. The essay shifts from his grueling experiences on the line to his easygoing life as a student, highlighting the disparity between the two worlds. Ultimately, he comes to a better understanding of the advantages he has in life while simultaneously recognizing that real-world experience is another useful form of education.
The main points of Braaksma’s article are showcasing the life struggles of the average blue-collar worker and underscoring the importance of a formal education. Braaksma expresses the first point by contrasting his daily routine on the line versus his routine while at school. Finally, he addresses the significance of a college education through inference. College educated individuals are less likely to work in positions that require manual labor. Therefore, a degree affords individuals opportunities beyond the line, opportunities that some people do/did not have.
The key points that support this interpretation are as …show more content…

In the last paragraph, he touches on how the assembly line provided him with real-world perspective – this could inspire other students into going outside their comfort zones or perhaps taking a closer look at the world around them. However, the challenges he might experience with this goal might arise from the very trait he’s trying to warn against, indifference. Many people simply do not care, and while they understand that blue-collar work is hard, they do not need to understand it any further, nor do they believe that such an experience will bring them anything “useful” in the long run. This mentality could be traced to the stigma of blue-collar work in general, but whatever the reason, if the essay inspires only one person, that’s better than no one at