I'd do it in a heartbeat if it the witcher trials weren't so risky. But because of that, the ones who DO survive and become actual witchers should realize that they're actually somewhat lucky
compared to many other people.
They shouldn't even care much if they're treated as social outcast by the majority since they don't even need to care what those people think of them - just do the job, get the coin & move on. What's more, they even have the opportunity to pass judgement on them if they think they did something beyond forgiveness, or they can invoke their very convenient "witcher code" of neutrality and often stay out of matter unless there really is no other choice. Most people in the world of the witcher have no such choices(hell, many people in our world don't have as many choices as witchers). Just think:
- Assimilated nonhumans: These guys have it the worst. They're treated with disdain by their very most people and are often the ones who take the beating for the actions of the Scoia'tael. At the same time, the Scoia'tael rarely don't give two shits about them, perhaps with some exceptions. The more radical groups would even treat them as traitors. And they're not warriors, they don't have the luxury of just doing the job & move on like a witcher does. They have to live there and endure the discrimination while not being able to do much.
- Peasants and other citizens of small, random villages: Besides the fact that they're not treated with the discrimination the assimilated nonhumans are, they really don't have it much better. They're often on the receiving ends of wars or political conflicts, them mattering little to their own country. Scoia'tael prey on them, monsters prey on them and plagues are deadlier to them than to people living in towns due to little-to-no medical support.
- Scoia'tael: As warriors, they can defend themselves against some threats such as military forces & weaker monsters and have the option to be the aggressor against people living in villages. Obviously, we all know that there's plenty of downsides like being hunted by pretty much all the North and accepted nowhere(well, there was Vergen IF it was successfully defended for a while but so much for that now). On the flipside, they have chosen this life. Most of them should be content with the idea that they'll die in battle. The very fact that they have that choice makes them somewhat more fortunate than peasants & common folk living outside of cities, IMO.
- People living in the poor quarters of towns or large cities: They might have it as worst or better than the ones in small villages, trading off the safety of a city's walls & city guards for possibly worst living conditions due to the city's expenses and them not cultivating crops, growing animals, etc like the peasants do. It depends on which village you compare them to I guess. Some might consider them less fortunate than Scoia'tael, though I suppose it depends on what city we're talking about.
- Common soldiers: I remember what Zyvik said to Geralt in a conversation(depending on what you tell him) when in the Kaedweni camp. It was that he & witchers in general don't have to die on someone's orders. Witchers risk their life on their own accord and they can also refuse contracts. Just imagine soldiers refuse to fight when their king say's so because they don't think the risk's worth it. Yea, it ain't happening.
- Mercenaries: I remember Adam Pangratt telling Geralt that mercenary might be the surest profession these days, a sign of the times, and I couldn't help but agree with the guy. They can swear allegiance to a country if they so desire & become regular soldiers - if they're good, I'm almost sure one of the northern kings would gladly take them. Thought I personally would avoid working for Emhyr as a merc - guy might throw you away Letho style once you & your group are no longer useful. But that's a choice they have if they somehow think the soldier's life would be better, which a lot probably don't.
So, Witchers who DO SURVIVE the trials should really consider themselves fortunate compared to others. If they ever so think they're less fortunate than a soldier or mercenary then they have little right to complain because it's THEIR CHOICE. I think every king would jump at the opportunity of hiring a witcher as a bodyguard, if the witcher gave the word. Plenty of wealthy merchants who seek protection for their goods would do the same. You can say there's plenty of scummy ones that aren't worthwhile for a witcher to sell his services to, but that's really not the case for all of them. Even assuming all of them are scum, the low-ranking soldiers who serve such a lord don't have much say in the matter either way.
I didn't even get into the whole immunity to disease & long-life thing, heh.
That being said, assuming I was a peasant, poor or middle class citizen, a common soldier or mercenary, I'd become go through the trials straight away if I'd get enough info from the mage supervising the trial the witchers I'm training with that I'd have a good chance of making it. I'd try to get a medical analysis through magic of my body beforehand, as much as the magic in the witcher world allows to that is
