THE PATHWAY FOR ME

Recently I completed my Certificate III in Early Childhood through ECT Company, which was an online course. While working through the course, I also completed my VCE/VM Year 11 and worked one day a week at Little Swans (a Swan Hill based Child Care Centre).  In Term 2 of my Year 12 VCE/VM, I was offered two days a week working at the Child Care Centre, whilst still studying both at school and the online course. Having completed the course, I have been offered a full-time position at the end of the school year.

As VCE/VM is structured for students to be able to work and study, I have been able to attend school, complete my Certificate III and work two days a week at the same time. It has made me capable to balance my life, being in two different settings. It has given me great skills and experience to be organised and be able to juggle multiple aspects of life.

During my early years of high school, I did struggle academically due to a language disorder. So this made literacy and maths subjects difficult for me. I felt like I was not like everyone else, as others easily wrote essays and calculated equations, and I couldn’t really do them. It was really difficult for me and I felt different.

My first few weeks of VCE/VM were really interesting, as I was in an environment where we could all understand each other, as our other passions in life and strengths were part of our classroom experience. The class tasks were all totally achievable and were related to real life. That is the best part of VCE/VM - it is all pointing towards life after school and real life, whereas Year 7 to 10 had lots of tasks that seemed unreasonable as I would not use them in my life. VCE/VM does not have exams or SACs, and the no homework was a bonus.

After completing my schooling, I plan to work at the Child Care Centre for a few years and then I will pursue my dream of working as a stage manager or actress in big theatres. Having recently spoken to several universities, they would accept me straight out of VCE/VM to start a course.  If an ATAR is required for university, I can still attend after a one year bridging course. Many of the courses that I am interested in at university do not require an ATAR but an interview or an audition.

I would encourage students that are hands-on, creative, wanting real-life experience or to work, to consider the VCE/VM pathway as a valid option of meeting one’s long term goals. It has certainly worked for me. I have easily been able to complete and pass all of the course work in my subjects, work part time and obtain a Certificate III. Along the way, I have made amazing friendships. This was a major concern for me entering into VCE/VM. I didn’t really know anyone at all, and now I have huge connections with these fantastic people.

VCE/VM has a huge workload to be completed. It takes many interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills. It is not an easy pathway, but certainly is designed for individuals to work towards their end goals in life.

Trinity Sutton

Year 12 Student