Seeking, and finding, a job or career is a top priority for many teens and young adults in today’s world. In this respect, the young people of the 18th century were no different, although their options were more limited and the paths they chose were often set at a very young age. With formal schooling at colleges and academies usually available only to the wealthy or middle classes, many children as young as 12 years of age were expected to pursue a professional apprenticeship with an established tradesman or craftsman. Questions about how they made these choices, the consequences of those choices, and about the multifaceted relationships among apprentices and masters will be addressed in the following sources and exercises. This lesson asks students to use primary and secondary sources as well as draw upon their own experiences and opinions to explore the specialized role of apprentices in Franklin’s time.