When you were a student, what did you want to do beyond year 12?   

When I was a student I wanted to work in fashion, but I wasn’t sure in what capacity, so I worked towards getting accepted into Marketing at University. I attended La Trobe University in Bendigo studying a Bachelor of Business majoring in Marketing and now I am the Digital Marketing Advisor for Pitcher Partners (the 7th largest accounting and advisory firm in Australia).

What do you love about the type of work/study you do now? 

After dabbling in the fashion industry and some trial and error, it took me a little while to figure out how much I value and love the professional services industry. While it may not appear particularly ‘sexy’, the opportunities within it are phenomenal, and the rate of change and innovation to keep up with client demands is incredible. I love that in my role I make change happen, constantly. As the digital world continues to evolve I am forever undertaking projects that change the way my firm does things—and for the better. I am continuously learning on the job; upskilling.

What’s one of your most vivid memories of your time at the college? 

Bendigo is unique in that we have a senior secondary college where students from secondary colleges all over the city come together for their final two years of school. This is an amazing opportunity and why BSSC provides me with so many great memories. Being able to constantly network with so many different people during class, breaks and social activities gave me an amazing group of lifelong friends and networks that I still catch up with (10 years later), have crossed career paths with, and have learnt a great deal from.

Was there a particular teacher or staff member that inspired you? 

I was inspired by teachers who I could relate to. I have incredibly fond memories of my VET Business Administration teacher, Trish Randles (a course I decided to do to gain practical, hands on work experience). I remember her treating me as an adult… it never felt like I was at school.  In hindsight, knowing what I do now, that class felt like starting a new job. She trusted her students, encouraged us to work autonomously and had real-world conversations with us. Now that I’m deep into my career, those qualities are exactly what I want and expect from a Manager, and I can now see that I loved her as a teacher because that’s an environment I learn and work best in.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 16-year-old self? 

Your years at Bendigo Senior Secondary College are an amazing opportunity to set up your career. Use those years to test out classes, industries and opportunities to experience as much as you can and figure out what you’re passionate about, what makes you tick and what you’re good at. If you take the time to figure this out while you’re at school, you may land yourself on a career path that you love from the get-go.