GOALS

blueprint australian industry trade college

FUTURE TRADIE KICKING GOALS

N 05 JULY 2022

STELLA YOUNG, YEAR 10, JOINED THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY TRADE COLLEGE (AITC) THIS YEAR WITH SOME BIG GOALS IN MIND… FIND A TRADE, GRADUATE YEAR 12 WITH QCE AND TRAIN HARD IN THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE (AFLW) TO BECOME PART OF THE BRISBANE LIONS.

DELIBERATELY DIFFERENT.

Stella is an inspiration for many young people — in sports and in life — and her confidence is sure to take her far beyond the goal posts.

Stella first came to the AITC because the College “was offering a lot more opportunities than my old school,” explains Stella. “I really wanted to go forward in my career and hopefully have better options and life choices. I’m into carpentry, I want to be a chippie, which is not a popular option for women.”

After reading about the AITC on Facebook the family researched the school further. “I went to the Ipswich Open Day and looked around as much as I could. You could tell staff were welcoming and at the Selection Day everyone was lovely.” Now, “I’ve made friends with everyone in my grade at the AITC. I have a good relationship with everyone.”

Stella is excited about the career pathways open to her including tasting the trades at TAFE. “I could live out my dreams here. The school is interesting and I’m keen to get out and do some work experience. I want to test different things, even though I like carpentry I’m not locked into one thing yet, I have options and an open mindset.”

Apart from finding a career path Stella’s extracurricular pathway is in AFLW. “It’s a great opportunity and getting to play for Metropolitan West School Sport (Met West) teams and going further in footy is exciting. It’s my passion. I first started in under 11s and now I’m turning 15 and I hope to do it for a lot longer,” says Stella.

“Met West is a big deal because you’re versing all the different Regions in Queensland. You compete and do heaps of trial games, friendly games. It can be quite a big deal because by making the team you get to compete at the State championships for your Region and you’re also representing a school, and it’s very exciting,” she explains. “I want to play for the Brisbane Lions when I get to the right age. I have played for the Brisbane Lions Academy so I’m already in touch with them. My club and school is opening up so many opportunities like Met West, Districts and Brisbane Lions. I hope to go far.”

With the common theme of being actively involved in a male dominated sport and industry, Stella says she brings the same strategy to her sport as in the AITC. “I think the fact they are both male dominated makes me more willing to do it. I like to prove people wrong. You hear things from different people saying, ‘Are you sure that’s what you want to do?’ and I answer with confidence ‘Yeah, it is.’!”

Stella offers wisdom from the challenges she’s faced so far. “You want to push your limits. You want to go as far as you can. People can try and push you down, “saying ‘You can’t do it.’, or, ‘It’s because you’re a girl… You kick like a girl.’…

‘Yes — I kick like a girl and run like a girl and that’s great—I’m proud of it!’ I don’t get put down by those words anymore. I take charge of my own narrative,” explains Stella.

“I’ve always had big aspirations my whole life. My parents are a huge inspiration to me. If I didn’t have so many great people around me, I wouldn’t have made it as far in footy or pursued an industry pathway. At every footy game, and in life, they’re always supporting me, and they were the first ones to support my move to the AITC.”

‘YES — I KICK LIKE A GIRL AND RUN LIKE A GIRL AND THAT’S GREAT—I’M PROUD OF IT!’ I DON’T GET PUT DOWN BY THOSE WORDS ANYMORE. I TAKE CHARGE OF MY OWN NARRATIVE.”

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