An interview with...

The road to success is always under construction, however, with more pathways open to our senior students than ever before, getting to the right career destination is no longer a mere fork in the road of choice. 

Long harbouring a keen interest in architecture and engineering, Year 11 student, Xander Raymer has not only laid the foundations to study civil engineering at university but has also set a route towards an apprenticeship, if he should change his mind.

Beginning and fast tracking a Certificate Ⅱ in Engineering last year,  Xander completed his exam component a week ago, and is now advantageously positioned to tackle his VCE subjects armed with practical knowledge and clear purpose.

Initially nervous about the unfamiliar educational setting as well as being a year younger than his VET cohort, Xander said it wasn’t long before he was thoroughly enjoying his mid-week sessions at TAFE.

‘I think overall it has been a brilliant experience for me, I’ve now decided that engineering is the field that I want to go into. The VET course has helped me realise that. I’ve made lifelong friends and have reconnected with some of my old friends as well; I really looked forward to Wednesdays at TAFE. It was good to have that break from school because it was new and refreshing.’

Acknowledging that it was the VET course that confirmed his desire to become a civil engineer, Xander also said the qualification would be an asset upon completing his VCE, opening doorways to universities.

A student gifted with an aptitude for mathematics and physics, Xander said that while he enjoyed the hands-on work at TAFE (including crafting a 20kg anvil), the course also enabled him to see the value of theory and study.

With an engineer’s toolbox now full to the brim with both practical and theoretical knowledge and after having learned how to design and construct prototypes and build from blueprints, Xander is well prepared for any change of heart in the future, or indeed any, bend in the road. 

‘If I decided in a few years’ time that Uni is not for me, I can go and get an apprenticeship. In fact, it will be far easier for me now as I have already done the prior learning. My TAFE instructor also said I could probably knock most of the first year off an apprenticeship, making it a three-year apprenticeship instead of four, just because I’ve done this VET course,’ Xander said.