She once dreamed of arguing cases in a courtroom but ended up fixing ski lifts in mountains of Utah, despite not knowing how to change her car’s oil. Today, this Gen Z earns more than she expected, lives in her own apartment and achieved financial independence

At a time when many Gen Z professionals aspire to white-collar careers, 25-year-old Victoria Madsen chose a very different path. She gave up her dream of becoming a lawyer, dropped out of college and took up a job as a ski lift mechanic in Utah. What began as a seasonal job eventually turned into a five-year career, giving her financial independence, a new car and a profession she takes pride in calling her own.

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The financial incentive was also hard to ignore. The mechanic's job paid her $3 (around Rs 285) more per hour than her previous position. Madsen eventually decided to leave college after realising that she was already earning more than she had expected to make after graduating, according to a Fortune report.

The career switch helped her reach milestones she once thought were distant, including moving into her own apartment and buying a new car.

“I was able to move out on my own. I was able to have my own apartment for the first time. I bought a new car,” she told Fortune, describing how quickly her circumstances changed.

Returning to college, but this time as a recruiter

Madsen recently returned to Utah Valley University, where she had once studied, to represent Sundance Mountain Resort at a career fair.

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There, she met several students on the verge of graduating. Despite having internships and well-prepared resumes, many were struggling to find jobs.

The experience made her feel more connected to her profession and strengthened her belief that skilled trades can provide an alternative to conventional career paths.

Financial uncertainties remain, but she has no regrets

While Madsen is happy with her career choice, she is still unsure about some of her long-term financial goals. Buying a house and having children are among the milestones she is uncertain she will be able to afford.

However, she remains confident about the availability of jobs in the mechanical trades and has no regrets about giving up her college education and legal ambitions for a career she never initially planned to pursue.