Mainly the social stuff. I started at Emmanuel in Year 11, when we moved to Warrnambool. Everyone was really welcoming. People would just invite me to go surfing or whatever. So I have made some great friends.
I was lucky because I got a head start by doing VET in schools (Cert II: Electro-technology), plus VCE, plus work placement for 1 day a week. It was pretty busy though. I was the only student that did my VCE this way. A lot of VCAL students do this, but not VCE students, so it’s pretty rare. Mr Smith and Mr Gladman were both very supportive and encouraging. I think VCE maths is pretty important as I use it every day.
At the end of the year I won the 2017 Trade Award from South West TAFE. It was for the VETis/School Based Electro-Technology Apprentice Highest Achieving Student.
About two months before school finished I was offered an apprenticeship with BGU Electrical who I had been doing my work placement with. I started the day after school finished.
I love it. There hasn’t been a day yet where I’ve woken up and gone “Agh! I have to go to work today.” My boss, Brad Umber, doesn’t treat me like I’m just an apprentice. I learn more and more stuff each day, because we work on lots of different types of projects. At the moment we’re doing a lot of solar installations.
When I started looking at the different trade options, electrical looked the most interesting to me because it was pretty broad, so I could see that it would always be different and a bit more technical. I didn’t realise until I started seriously considering chasing an electrical apprenticeship, that I am actually the 5th generation in my family to be an electrician. My great, great grandfather installed the first power lines to get power to Margaret River.
At school, it was definitely ‘Gladdy’ (Mr Gladman) and Mr Smith. Gladdy told me what I needed to do and who to contact to give me the best chance to get an apprenticeship. Shane helped me juggle all the school side of things.
Follow what you’re interested in and work with your teachers. They are there to help you. They’re not your enemy. All you have to do is ask.
