Leaving School issue 17

A free guide to study and career options for high school students Years 11-13 OCTOBER 2019 | ISSUE # 17 Success is no accident. It is hard work, perserverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or leading to.

Pelé JONO SUTTON ORCHARDIST

SARAH WILSON FARMER

The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.

Barack Obama PRIVATE JOKAVETI WAQANIVALU ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN

ANDREW BARCLAY FISHERMAN

When I was a child my mother said to me, "If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general.

If you become a monk, you’ll be the pope."

Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.

Pablo Picasso CODY WEBBY BUILDER

BRIDGET FIELD OPTOMETRIST

LEAVINGSCHOOLNZ WWW.LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ

WE KNOW CHOOSING A CAREER PATH CAN BE A LITTLE DAUNTING...

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LEAVING SCHOOL issue # 1 7 / OctOber 2019

CONTENTS

05 FOREWORD | KANE WILLIAMSON

The BLACKCAPS captain looks back over school and has a few tips for striking the right balance.

06 HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYOR | JEREMY McCAFFREY

Are you keen to work in the marine industry and don’t want to sit in an office all day?

07 CARPENTRY APPRENTICE | CHEL SEA ROPER

MANAGING EDITOR

Oliver Lee

SUB-EDITOR Elise McDowell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sara Carbery, Diana Clement, NZ Defence Careers, Peter White, Josh Williams, Kane Williamson PHOTOGRAPHY BCITO, Richard Briggs, Charly Harvey, Geoff Horrell, Luke Marshall, NZ Defence Force, Kate MacPherson, Madeline Smith, Alan Stevens, Logan West PAGINATION HNZL 2014 Limited PRINTER Ovato, Auckland PUBLISHER

A shift of location and life goals was the impetus for a change of career to carpentry.

08 AGRICULTURE | SARAH WILSON

A love of animals and the outdoors appeals to this young farmer.

12 ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE | SERGEANT AARON GOH

An insight into working as a Communications and Information Systems Technician with the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

13 NEW ZEALAND ARMY | PRIVATE JOKAVETI WAQANIVALU

Make life-long friends, be supported and learn technical skills with the New Zealand Army.

14 STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH | TYSON HUIA

Find out what the draw to Invercargill was for this dedicated strength and conditioning coach.

16 NOTICEBOARD

Key dates, websites and information are all collated in one easy-to-find spot.

18 HORTICULTURE | JONO SUTTON

2019 Young Grower of the Year sees a bright future in horticulture in New Zealand.

19 FISHING | ANDREW BARCLAY

A life out on the ocean taking in the incredible scenery in all kinds of weather.

20 FINE ARTS | MAIA WHAREWERA-BALLARD

This student is inspired to showcase culture and values through her art.

22 BUILDER | CODY WEBBY

From carpentry apprentice to company director employing two of his own apprentices.

24 OPTOMETRIST | BRIDGET FIELD

Look to the future in this role that is a mix of helping people, science and health.

Box 331-667, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 T: +64-9-486 6966 E: oliver@oliverlee.co.nz W: oliverlee.co.nz W: LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ ISSN 2463-3380 (Print) ISSN 2463-3399 (Online) COPYRIGHT: Reproduction in whole or in part by any means is prohibited. DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Although all material is checked for accuracy, no liability is assumed by the publisher for any loss due to use of material in this magazine.

26 APPRENTICESHIPS

Get to grips with apprenticeships and learn a few tips on getting that crucial first foot in the door.

27 EMPLOYMENT ADVICE

How taking that first step on the employment ladder can lead to the top rung.

28 STUDY TIPS

You’re going to want to make the most of study leave, so here are some ideas on doing just that.

29 COPING STRATEGIES

How to use mindfulness and self-care to keep yourself healthy during exam time.

30 FINANCIAL SKILLS

Your first foray into debt can quickly spiral into a quicksand of debt, so learn how to avoid this pitfall.

Throughout this magazine, each case study has been colour coded to its Vocational Pathway.

Visit www.youthguarantee.net.nz/vocational-pathways to learn more about Vocational Pathways.

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3

FOREWORD

AMBITION, DRIVE AND ACHIEVING

IT’S ALL ABOUT FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE

5

by KANE WILLIAMSON

I knew I wanted to be a professional cricketer while I was at Tauranga Boys’ College but you could never know for sure if it would happen. The ambition I had was to keep improving and to see how far I could get.

The drive to make higher levels was there and I thought it would be a pretty cool thing if I achieved playing professional sport. But I made sure I kept high standards with my school work just in case the cricket career did not quite go to plan.

IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ENJOY YOUR LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AT SCHOOL AND KEEP WORKING HARD WITH A LITTLE BIT OF AN EYE ON THE FUTURE AND WHERE YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO. KANE WILLIAMSON, BLACKCAPS CAPTAIN

By the time I got to Year 13, cricket was already dominating. I missed quite a bit of that last year away with the NZ Under-19 team at a World Cup in Malaysia and a tour of England, plus also playing for Northern Districts.

Despite the time away I was given the huge honour of being made Head Boy of Tauranga Boys’ which was a privilege and something I really enjoyed.

While I was heavily involved in the sport side of things, I also enjoyed the academic aspect. In Year 13 I took Economics and Accounting plus English, Maths and Titans Sport.

One of the things I was really thankful for was how the school allowed me to work specifically on areas I needed to in the classroom, in order to finish school with everything I needed to go to university.

So it was about balancing that up with the sport thing I had going. When I was leaving school, the intention was to try and continue playing sport

PHOTO COURTESY OF PHOTOSPORT.NZ

but also start university doing a business management degree. But that only lasted six weeks before cricket took over.

Succeeding in sport is no different to succeeding at school or university or in the career you go into. It is really important to enjoy your last couple of years at school and keep working hard with a little bit of an eye on the future and where you might want to go.

For me, cricket has obviously been a pretty busy part of my life but I will always remember when I first started playing professional cricket I realised that I would need other bits and pieces in my life to try and get the mix right.

Achieving the right balance between the academic and sporting perspectives was very important to me at school, and so is having other things in life you enjoy doing – not just having one thing that consumes you.

I hope you too can find that balance.

Kane Williamson Kane Williamson is captain of the BLACKCAPS cricket team and one of the four best batsmen in the world. He has scored 20 test centuries – a New Zealand record.

LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #17

| LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ

HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYOR 6

DON’T WANT TO SIT IN AN OFFICE?

HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING writer SARA CARBERY // photographer RICHARD BRIGGS If you’re looking for a challenging career in the marine industry, hydrographic surveying could be for you. It’s the science of measurement and description of features that affect maritime navigation, marine construction, dredging, off-shore oil exploration/off-shore oil drilling and related activities.

JEREMY McCAFFREY (26) hadn’t considered surveying as a career until he heard about it during his first year of a Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Canterbury.

“Surveying sounded more like me,” he says. “It didn’t involve chemistry and also had the benefit of offering some papers in hydrographic surveying.”

Jeremy had his sights set on working in the marine industry and was looking for a job that was practical and would get him out of the office.

In his role as a surveyor with international hydrographic survey company iXblue, both these boxes are definitely ticked. Jeremy spends two-thirds of his time working on projects in different (and often remote) places using iXblue’s fully autonomous drone-like survey vessel.

“My best project so far had me sailing around Tonga installing and calibrating tide gauges and geodetic controls for a month.” He hopes one day to work in Antarctica.

Jeremy admits being away from home often isn’t for everyone and says you need to be self-sufficient to work in remote areas.

“We are constantly having to repair and find work-arounds while out in the field.”

The majority of his work involves collecting bathymetric data

(underwater depth measurements) using a multibeam sonar. This data is used mainly for navigation safety, although it can also be used for seabed classification and habitat mapping.

Jeremy changed to the University of Otago to study surveying, as it’s the only university in New Zealand to offer a Bachelor of Surveying (BSurv).

“Dunedin is a great city to study in,” he says. “I had an amazing time and made life-long friends.”

With a Bachelor of Engineering initially in mind, Jeremy took Calculus, Physics, Outdoor Ed, English and Chemistry in his final year at Marlborough Boys’ College.

Surveying is “pretty maths heavy”, so Calculus and Physics have been the most useful subjects.

If you’re looking for an easy degree, a BSurv shouldn’t be your first option, Jeremy says. But if you’re looking for a career that has “very good job prospects, is challenging, gets you outside and out of the office, is versatile and has a variety of different job options” then a Bachelor of Surveying is worth checking out.

A four-year degree, it’s the only qualification in New Zealand that leads directly to recognition as a Registered Professional Surveyor.

MY BEST PROJECT SO FAR HAD ME SAILING AROUND TONGA INSTALLING AND CALIBRATING TIDE GAUGES AND GEODETIC CONTROLS FOR A MONTH. JEREMY McCAFFREY

“Surveying is a varied and exciting career that has a great indoor/outdoor balance; it requires design skills, measurement skills, interpersonal skills and the ability

KEY FACTS ■ JEREMY McCAFFREY HAS A BACHELOR OF SURVEYING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO. ■ HE WORKS AS A SURVEYOR WITH INTERNATIONAL HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY COMPANY iXblue.

■ JEREMY HAS FOUND CALCULUS AND PHYSICS TO BE THE MOST USEFUL OF HIS NCEA SUBJECTS DURING HIS UNIVERSITY STUDIES AND IN HIS JOB.

LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ

| LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #17

to sift through evidence. It is a profession that is in constant demand both in New Zealand and abroad,” says the University of Otago on its website.

For more information on studying Surveying through the University of Otago, visit www.otago.ac.nz/surveying For more information and to learn more about surveying, visit www.surveyspatialnz.org

MAKE A SHIFT: TAKE ON A TRADE

CARPENTRY APPRENTICE

DRIVEN BY A DESIRE TO BUILD HER OWN HOME

7

writer SARA CARBERY // image BCITO Second-year carpentry apprentice CHELSEA ROPER is clearly happy with her choice of career. “I love it,” she says. “Just being able to go to work every day and see the visual progress you have made on a job is so awesome – taking nothing and creating something.”

“You are literally building the roof over someone’s head, that’s so much to be proud of.” Despite her passion for her new-found profession, Chelsea’s path into building wasn’t direct.

Chelsea attended Botany Downs Secondary School and studied English, Art, Photography, ICT and Journalism in Year 12.

After leaving, she then completed two diplomas in graphic design and worked fulltime as a designer in Auckland.

A few years later, a move to Queenstown with her partner and a dream of building their own home, prompted a career change.

“Design jobs are hard to come by, and you are likely to settle on a pay you are not happy with just to grab a job,” says Chelsea.

“Whereas as a carpentry apprentice I’m able to study and work at the same time, plus my pay is similar, if not the same, as what I was earning as a qualified graphic designer, even after six years.

“New Zealand was crying out for more tradies, we wanted to build our own home, and I was in need of a new job. It just made sense.”

Now working for RMT Builders, Chelsea (25) says having a good relationship with your boss is really important.

“For me, it was never how much I got paid; it was to be working for a great company who is able to support me through my apprenticeship and everyday life.”

She encourages other young women to take on apprenticeships. “Stand out, be different, take on a trade,” she says. “It’s really not as scary as you may think it is, and there is so much support for women in trades.”

Chelsea admits that before starting her apprenticeship she trawled social media looking for validation from others that a career in carpentry was acceptable for a woman.

“I’d search Facebook and look at all the hashtags on Instagram, just wanting to see other women and girls on the tools. I never found it.” So, she started @shebuildsbro on Instagram and Facebook “to help other females feel they can take on a trade, because I have.”

Chelsea is doing her carpentry apprenticeship through the Building & Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO). “They’ve been round for years and they know their stuff. My brother has been building now for 16 years and he too trained with BCITO. I love how they enable you to work at your own pace without having to commit to attending classes weekly or monthly.”

KEY FACTS ■ CHELSEA ROPER IS COMPLETING A CARPENTRY APPRENTICESHIP THROUGH BCITO AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING AT RMT BUILDERS. ■ A DESIRE TO BUILD HER OWN HOME PROMPTED A CAREER CHANGE FROM GRAPHIC DESIGN TO CARPENTRY.

For more information on carpentry apprenticeships through BCITO, visit www.bcito.org.nz/apprentices

■ CHELSEA ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO CONSIDER AN APPRENTICESHIP IN CARPENTRY AND SAYS THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR WOMEN IN TRADES. LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #17

| LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ

AGRICULTURE

A CAREER WITH A LIFESTYLE

8

FARMING NEEDS YOUNG WORKERS Growing up on a farm gave SARAH WILSON a front-row seat to observe what a career in farming might look like.

After completing Year 13 at Wanganui Girls’ College, Sarah enrolled with Telford where she studied for a Certificate in Agriculture in her first year and a Diploma in Agriculture in her second. “I liked the idea of being outside learning practical skills,” she says.

During this time, Sarah lived on Telford’s campus in Balclutha, which extends over 850 hectares of farmland and includes halls of residence, workshops, classrooms and livestock units.

“The highlights were the close friends I made along the way − because we all were studying agriculture, we all had similar interests, which made it easy to get along with others.”

Sarah says the tutors also became friends and she still contacts them for a catch-up or advice.

Since graduating last year, Sarah (21) has worked on a sheep and beef farm near Lawrence in Otago – a job she got on the recommendation of one of her tutors.

IT ’ S A GREAT CAREER PATH THAT COMES WITH A GREAT LIFESTYLE. THERE ARE ALSO SO MANY JOB OPPORTUNITIES AS FARMING is A MASSIVE SECTOR WITHIN NEW ZEALAND AND HAS A SHORTAGE OF YOUNG WORKERS COMING ON. SARAH WILSON

She says all the skills and knowledge she acquired at Telford – stock work, fencing, tractor work and more – are being put to good use.

“I enjoy most aspects of my job but in particular I like how every day is different. One day I might be working with cattle, the next sheep, and the next I could be fencing or who knows what.

“I also love being able to have my own dogs and having the satisfaction of training them myself and seeing them grow and become better.”

BUSINESS AS USUAL @ SIT FOR 2020, 2021, 2022 The government’s proposed reforms might change our back room operations but they won’t change our core focus giving students a world class education.

ENROL NOW AND LAUNCH YOUR CAREER! www.sit.ac.nz

0800 4 0 FEES

writer SARA CARBERY photographer GEOFF HOWELL

Enrolments confirmed until 2023 SIT Zero Fees Scheme The Sir Mayor Tim Shadbolt Accommodation Bursaries for Invercargill SIT2LRN Early Bird special, enrol for 2020 and save on the $50 admin cost

While there are always challenges in farming, “such as days when it’s cold and raining but you still have to be outside… or the dogs misbehave, or the stock misbehaves”, Sarah says these are always outweighed by the positives.

In her final year of school, Sarah studied English, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Sport Science and Art. The most useful subjects have been Statistics − “as there is always maths involved in farming, such as lambing percentages [and] growth rates”

She also found “bits of Chemistry” useful when learning about agrichemicals and soil nutrients.

If you’re looking at a career in farming, Sarah says to “go for it”.

“It’s a great career path that comes with a great lifestyle. There are also so many job opportunities as farming is a massive sector within New Zealand and has a shortage of young workers coming in.”

After working her way up the country gaining experience on different farms, Sarah’s plan is to take over the family farm near Taumarunui.

A faculty of the Southern Institute of Technology, Telford offers real-life, practical training under the supervision of experienced tutors and farm managers.

KEY FACTS ■ SARAH WILSON LIVED AT TELFORD’S BALCLUTHA CAMPUS – AN 850-HECTARE FARM – AND GAINED A CERTIFICATE IN AGRICULTURE IN HER FIRST YEAR AND A DIPLOMA IN AGRICULTURE IN HER SECOND. ■ SHE HAS FOUND BIOLOGY, STATISTICS AND ASPECTS OF CHEMISTRY TO BE THE MOST USEFUL NCEA SUBJECTS THROUGHOUT HER STUDIES AND IN HER JOB. ■ SARAH HAS AMBITIONS TO WORK ON DIFFERENT FARMS AND GAIN EXPERIENCE ALL ACROSS NEW ZEALAND.

For more information on studying toward a career in the agriculture industry through the Southern Institute of Technology, visit www.sit.ac.nz/telford

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Join us in 2020 for Certificate and Diploma level studies in Agriculture, Rural Veterinary Technician, and Equine.

Live on-campus or as a day student and become part of the Telford tradition.

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0800 835 367 telford@sit.ac.nz

For more info visit www.telford.ac.nz

AGRICULTURE

− and Biology, which “pretty much relates to everything within farming, from genetics to plant health”.

9

SPECIALIST COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN HIGH DEMAND If you’re looking for a qualification that will set you up for a whole heap of career options, look no further than Victoria University of Wellington’s new Bachelor of Communication.

The degree will give you the communication skills and knowledge you need for a career in a range of industries and institutions, including government, the public sector, media or public relations, policy development, not-for-profit organisations and social advocacy groups, and creative industries.

Future-proofed expertise Communication has become an increasingly powerful tool that influences the way we see and understand the world around us. By studying Communication at Victoria University of Wellington, you’ll gain the expertise needed to become an agile and innovative communicator.

You’ll get to explore the possibilities of different ways to communicate—through print, video, or social media channels such as Instagram and Snapchat—and learn how to use them to best express your message and reach different audiences.

And, you’ll get to specialise in the area that interests you most—whether that’s Intercultural Communication, Literary and Creative Communication, Media Studies, Political Communication, or Science Communication.

A political move For Charlotte Mebus-Leckie, who’s studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies at the University, the new degree is right up her alley.

“I’ve always been interested in politics, and the Bachelor of Communication offers a Political Communication major. The more I read about it, the more I thought this was what I wanted to do.

“I think the Bachelor of Communication will build on my experience and help me further develop my communication skills and strategy as I head towards a career in politics. It will help me cut through the noise and develop clear, well thought out, and persuasive communication.”

Broader perspective Another of our students, Blake Smith, who’s studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and English Literature, says he used to think media was just TV and TV shows, but he quickly found that media and communication was a far broader topic that is all pervasive throughout society and how we live our lives.

“It’s important to investigate the world around us—how we connect and communicate with each other. And its very interesting when you do that—it’s almost like when astronauts go into space and see the earth, and can see how everything’s connected. So investigating the bigger picture and how we connect and communicate can bring a broader perspective on the world.”

o t t n a W e h t e p a sh ? n o i t a s r e v n co

APPLY NOW

to study in 2020 Learn more at victoria.ac.nz/apply

MED BOOK ROYAL NEW ZEALAND BOLD AIR FORCE 12

CONSIDER A MILITARY CAREER

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITIES AWAITING YOU contributor NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE CAREERS // photography NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE Royal New Zealand Air Force SERGEANT AARON GOH had no idea what he wanted to do after high school. He knew he enjoyed “anything technical” so he chose to join the military.

It’s a decision that he has never regretted. At Upper Hutt College, Aaron studied Maths (Calculus), Physics, Hospitality and Catering, and Classical Studies. He knew he wanted a career that used technical skills.

“I thought that rather than spend my savings chasing an unknown future as a university student, I’d see what I could learn for free in the Air Force.”

Aaron is a Communications and Information Systems (CIS) Technician, currently working in the Satellite Network Operations Centre.

“My team manage the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) satellite links enabling our forces, allowing them to conduct operations by providing connectivity to NZDF networks wherever they find themselves in the world. This role doesn’t involve working on aircraft but satellite links are vital to provide connectivity to deployed force elements supporting aircraft operations. We regularly support operations with 3, 5 and 40 Squadron.”

Aside from the standard military training, he has trained in radio and antenna operation, IT and networking (including Cisco), and light and heavy vehicle on and off-road driving. He has also completed a Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

He particularly enjoys the variety in his role. “It’s a great balance of desk and outdoor work. Getting outdoors every once in a while to work on equipment and sometimes even getting dirty adds variety to my week.”

Aaron says the Air Force is a close-knit community, with a nice balance of there always being someone to hang out with but also plenty of time and space to be on your own.

“There are also always people to help you solve technical problems or give you advice. And there are opportunities to be deployed overseas or to be part of really interesting and challenging projects.”

“I thoroughly recommend school leavers enquiring with their local recruiters to find out what the military can offer. There are a great variety of jobs and opportunities, and all that is asked of applicants is a good attitude and willingness to learn.”

The New Zealand Defence Force is currently recruiting for IT-related roles for their 2020 intakes.

No previous experience is required as all training and qualifications are provided.

Most roles require applicants to hold at least NCEA Level 2 and have 12 credits in Level 2 Science. But there are a few positions that require only NCEA Level 1. There are also undergraduate and graduate scholarships available for those studying IT-related degrees at university.

KEY FACTS ■ AARON GOH IS A SERGEANT IN THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE, WHERE HE WORKS AS A COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS (CIS) TECHNICIAN IN THE SATELLITE NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTRE. ■ HE REALLY ENJOYS THE VARIETY OF HIS ROLE AS WELL AS THE CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY PROVIDED BY THE AIR FORCE. ■ AARON RECOMMENDS SCHOOL LEAVERS APPROACH THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND ROLES THAT A CAREER IN THE MILITARY OFFERS. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ

| LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #17

For more information on a career with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, visit www.defencecareers.mil.nz or phone 0800 1 FORCE

LIFE IN THE ARMY: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS contributor NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE CAREERS // photography NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE PRIVATE JOKAVETI WAQANIVALU has a technical job she loves and the ability to play sport just about whenever she likes.

“Working for the Army means I have the best of both worlds,” she says.

Jokaveti, who was born in Fiji but has lived in New Zealand since she was aged three, is an Electronics Technician with the New Zealand Army Logistics Corps.

She studied Maths (Calculus), Physics, Chemistry, English and PE at Epsom Girls Grammar in Auckland, before joining the Army straight out of high school.

“I’ve always been interested in the physical side of things, and love being active. The thought of doing something different every day, like you do in this trade in the Army, really attracted me. I saw it as a good mix of using my mind and being active at the same time.”

As an Electronics Technician she works on a variety of communications equipment for the Army, ranging from radios to the electronic equipment within a Light Armoured Vehicle. She needs to know how the equipment works so that she can maintain and repair it when necessary.

“I have always been interested in electronics and fixing things. I love taking things apart to see how they work.”

A typical day sees her doing physical training (PT) first thing in the morning and having breakfast, before heading to a workshop to continue her trade training.

“At the same time we are also refining our soldiering skills too, so every now and then we will be doing shoots and firing tests, and keeping up-to-date with weapons drills.”

She is training for a Certificate in Electrical Engineering (Level 4), and as she proceeds through the ranks she will complete a Diploma in Electrical Engineering.

Life outside of her job in the Army is great, she says.

“The boys don’t treat you any different, which is awesome. Everyone is expected to do the same thing. There are female and male standards in PT, but apart from that everything is equal.”

She lives on base at Linton Military Camp. “It’s just like flatting really. When you finish work that’s your own time and you can do what you like. I usually just end up spending time with my friends, maybe playing basketball, going into town, having dinner together.

“You make some really good friends in the Army, probably life-long bonds I reckon.”

Jokaveti says joining the Army straight from high school was perfect for her because it offered security and structure, even though she was living away from home.

“You have a good life and are learning skills at the same time, and you have the freedom to do things.”

NEW ZEALAND ARMY

SECURITY, STRUCTURE AND SKILLS

THE THOUGHT OF DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY DAY, like YOU DO IN THIS trade IN the armY, REALLY ATTRACTED ME.

KEY FACTS ■ JOKAVETI WAQANIVALU IS A PRIVATE IN THE NEW ZEALAND ARMY LOGISTICS CORP, WHERE SHE WORKS AS AN ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN. ■ SHE FINDS HER ROLE TO BE A GREAT MIX OF BOTH KEEPING ACTIVE AND TECHNICAL SKILLS. ■ JOKAVETI IS STUDYING TOWARD A CERTIFICATE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (LEVEL 4).

LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #17

For more information on a career with the New Zealand Army, visit www.defencecareers.mil.nz

| LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ

13

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH 14

GUIDING ATHLETES TO BE THEIR BEST

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING contributor PETER WHITE // photography CHARLY HARVEY TYSON HUIA is motivated to get out of bed every day to help young athletes to reach their goals. The strength and conditioning coach is based at Academy Southland’s world-class facilities inside the cycling velodrome at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill.

“What I love about what I do is I am working with a whole bunch of different athletes from different tiers, age groups and genders,” says Tyson.

“I am in a position where I can use my experience and qualifications to help guide the athletes to the next best programme. I also like to be a role model just to help them become a better person really.”

Tyson has been in the role since October last year after spending 10 years in the NZ Army, where he completed multiple deployments to various countries. He has been involved in strength and conditioning roles in a number of sports, including basketball, rugby and netball at a professional level.

BE A GENUINE PERSON AND ALWAYS EVALUATE EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING. learning from YOUR mistakes is important so don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

TYSON HUIA

Academy Southland is celebrating 15 years developing young sportspeople.

The academy runs a two-year programme with development opportunities offered in mental skills, athlete life, nutrition, and strength and conditioning.

So far 180 students from 40 different sports have been involved in the programme since 2005.

Tyson plays a key part in one section of an athlete’s development. “If I do my job right, and everyone else in the programme achieves their objectives in their roles, it is enough to help guide the athletes to success or to be better than they were before they got into the programme.”

Tyson has a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise from the Southern Institute of Technology and is partway through a Master of Applied Science with Otago Polytechnic.

“As a student, I found the SIT Zero Fees Velodrome to be extraordinary and now, with the Mike Piper Training Centre used for the top athletes, I don’t think you would get this experience anywhere else.”

It was the Zero Fees scheme that helped seal Tyson and his wife’s decision to move south, where she secured a fulltime position with Netball South.

Tyson is originally from Auckland but completed his high school education at St Paul’s College in

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MAINZ.AC.NZ CHRISTCHURCH 0800 264 426 A U C K L A N D 0800 265 526

His advice to students considering a career in strength and conditioning is to find some relevant networking pathways while they are gaining their qualifications.

“What helped me to progress was every year while I was studying, I was able to connect with and network with organisations like Rugby Southland and learn under the head trainer.

“So, I just shadowed him for the first year and in my second year I was in the right place at the right time and transitioned from rugby to Netball South.”

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH

Melbourne, Australia where he studied Mathematics, English, Art and Physical Education in his final year.

He has some final words of advice for school leavers.

“Just be a genuine person and always evaluate everything you are doing. Learning from your mistakes is important so don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

Keep working hard and keep that consistency going in your final year at school. Keep chipping away.”

15

KEY FACTS ■ TYSON HUIA WORKS AS A STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH AT ACADEMY SOUTHLAND, BASED OUT OF THE SIT ZERO FEES VELODROME AT ILT STADIUM SOUTHLAND IN INVERCARGILL. ■ HE HAS A BACHELOR OF SPORT AND EXERCISE FROM THE SOUTHERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND IS CURRENTLY STUDYING TOWARD A MASTER OF APPLIED SCIENCE THROUGH OTAGO POLYTECHNIC.

For more information on studying Sport and Exercise through the Southern Institute of Technology and their Zero Fees scheme, visit www.sit.ac.nz

■ TYSON RECOMMENDS THAT THOSE INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING FOCUS ON DEVELOPING CONNECTIONS WITH THOSE IN THE INDUSTRY, WHILE STUDYING.

Fire Protection Association of New Zealand (FPANZ) is looking for school leavers.

S R E V A E L L O O H SC

Our members are currently recruiting to fill the following positions around New Zealand. We are seeking SCHOOL LEAVERS, CADETS, and TRAINEES in all of these roles and specific areas of Fire Protection.

FPANZ can help place candidates into our members companies all around NZ.

FIRE ALARM & SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

Many of the jobs and careers listed opposite offer free training and NZQA recognised qualifications can be achieved while working and earning.

FPANZ can also provide information to help candidates decide where they would like to work and in what disciplines.

❱ System Testers & Surveyors ❱ System Installers & Maintenance Technicians ❱ Supervisors & Project Managers ❱ Product Support, Sales & Engineers ❱ IQP Building & Systems Inspectors ❱ System Designers & CAD Operators

PASSIVE FIRE SYSTEMS

❱ System Installers ❱ System Designers & CAD Operators ❱ Supervisors & Project Managers ❱ Product Support, Sales & Engineers

ENGINEERING & COMPLIANCE

❱ Evacuation Consultants ❱ Systems Engineers – Mechanical & Electrical ❱ Fire Engineers ❱ System Designers & CAD Operators

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

❱ Product Support, Sales & Engineers ❱ Maintenance Technicians

For more information on career options and job placements in the Fire Industry please contact info@fpanz.org

IMPORTANT NOTICES 16

NOTICE BOARD

KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

SECONDARY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2019 /2020 Term 4 holiday: 13 Dec 2019– 27 Jan/7 Feb 2020 (earliest/latest) Term 1 holiday: 11 Apr–26 Apr 2020 Term 2 holiday: 4 July–19 July 2020 Term 3 holiday: 26 Sept–11 Oct 2020 Information sourced from Ministry of Education, visit www.education.govt.nz

Here are the We must values that I stand for: accept finite honesty, equality, kindness, disappointment, compassion, treating but we must never people the way you lose infinite hope. want to be treated Martinthose Luther and helping in need.

King, Jr Ellen DeGeneres

SCHOLARSHIPS

JOB HUNTING

There is a free-to-use comprehensive list of Year 13 scholarships available to 2019 school leavers at MoneyHub. Millions of dollars are available and applications close throughout the year.

Talk to your careers advisor or visit www.moneyhub.co.nz/ scholarships-nz

These websites will help you find a job!

Allied Work Force – www.awf.co.nz Trade Me Jobs – www.trademe.co.nz/jobs MyJobSpace – www.myjobspace.co.nz Student Job Search – www.sjs.co.nz Do Good Jobs – www.dogoodjobs.co.nz Work and Income – www.job-bank.workandincome.govt.nz Seek – www.seek.co.nz

STUDENT ALLOWANCE AND LOANS

JEREMY McCAFFREY HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYOR / SEE PAGE 6

Aim to make a difference in someone’s life every single day, including your own.

Doe Zantamata

LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ

Visit www.keytolife.org.nz

If you are about to leave school and you’re looking at tertiary study, there’s going to be a lot to think about. If it’s anything to do with financial support while you’re studying, StudyLink can help and you need to apply by 16 December 2019.

Sign up for info at www.studylink.govt.nz

So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon ipis as dolorest quatiam illent elia become inevitable. quidi to conseque as exces et alis dolorest, vid veles aut Reeve volupta christopher esecupt aecupidenis.

IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING LIFELINE available 24/7 0800 543 354 www.lifeline.org.nz YOUTHLINE available 24/7 0800 376 633 or free text 234 www.youthline.co.nz WHAT’S UP Mon-Fri noon-11pm & Sat/Sun 3pm-11pm 0800 942 8787 www.whatsup.co.nz ALCOHOL DRUG HELPLINE 0800 787 797 available 24/7 www.alcoholdrughelp.org.nz

| LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #17

CHELSEA ROPER CARPENTRY APPRENTICE / SEE PAGE 7

It’s always important to make sure that you are on the electoral roll and ready to take part in national and local elections.

How else can you be sure that you are ready to have your say on the big issues affecting you and your family?

Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.

Napoleon Hill MAIA WHAREWERA-BALLARD FINE ARTS / SEE PAGE 20

www.elections.org.nz/voters

17

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteering can provide you with opportunities to develop your skills in new and interesting ways as well as providing valuable real-world experiences – all important attributes to your CV when applying for your first job! For more information, visit: www.volunteeringnz.org.nz/ volunteers/finding-volunteer-roles/

Nothing really worth having is easy to get. The hard-fought battles, the goals won with sacrifice, are the ones that matter.

Aisha Tyler TYSON HUIA STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH / SEE PAGE 14

CAREERS GET SET FOR NZ CAREERS EXPO 2020 NEW ZEALAND

CHRISTCHURCH Horncastle Arena 7–9 MAY 2020 AUCKLAND ASB Showgrounds 28–30 MAY 2020 HAMILTON Claudelands Event Centre 7–8 JUNE 2020 WELLINGTON TSB Arena, Queens Wharf 19–20 JUNE 2020

Admission to the Expo is free for all visitors.

Visit their website www.careersexpo.org.nz

When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal, you do not change your decision to get there.

Zig Ziglar

IMPORTANT NOTICES

MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT

A free guide to study and career options for high school students Years 11-13 OCTOBER 2019 | ISSUE # 17

A fantastic resource providing expert advice and confidential, free information on all things education and employment – including choosing school subjects, enrolling in study or training and applying for jobs.

Call their free advice line on 0800 222 733, free text CAREER to 434 or chat online by visiting their website at www.careers.govt.nz

Success is no accident. It is hard work, perserverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or leading to.

Pelé JONO SUTTON ORCHARDIST

SARAH WILSON FARMER

The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.

Barack Obama PRIVATE JOKAVETI WAQANIVALU ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN

ANDREW BARCLAY FISHERMAN

When I was a child my mother said to me, "If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general.

If you become a monk, you’ll be the pope."

Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.

Pablo Picasso CODY WEBBY BUILDER

BRIDGET FIELD OPTOMETRIST

LEAVINGSCHOOLNZ WWW.LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ

These magazines and past issues can be read online at www.leavingschool.co.nz

FEELING DOWN?

Leaving school is one of the most major transitions we undertake in our lives, and it’s a time when anxiety, worry and depression can surface. www.thelowdown.co.nz is full of ideas and people who can help you get unstuck and get to a better place.

Need to talk? Free text to 5626 LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #17

| LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ

FARM BUSINESS MANAGER ORCHARDIST

SOME OF THE PAST WINNERS HAVE GONE ON TO DO AMAZING THINGS IN HORTICULTURE, so to have MY NAME NEXT TO THEIRS IS OVERWHELMING.

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JONO SUTTON

THE GRASS IS GREENER

2019 YOUNG GROWER OF THE YEAR JONO SUTTON sees a bright future ahead for school leavers who decide on horticulture as a career. The 26-year-old from Nelson is well-placed to comment on the positive state-of-play in the horticulture industry after he was named the 2019 Young Grower of the Year in early October.

Jono won the award up against six other regional champions from around New Zealand.

“This is one of horticulture’s highest achievements for a young person – winning it is massive,” says Jono. “Some of the past winners have gone on to do amazing things in horticulture, so to have my name next to theirs is overwhelming.

“I work for the family business so I am not looking for a new job and am pretty happy with how things are going. But this definitely does lift your profile in the industry as a young, emerging grower.”

HortNZ Chief Executive Mike Chapman says the Young Grower of the Year is important because it highlights horticulture as a vibrant career in a $6 billion industry.

“Our industry is responding to new requirements, particularly in the areas of freshwater, land use, food safety, and health and safety.

“These areas offer young people many and varied career opportunities. I am positive that all entrants in 2019’s Young Grower competition have benefited from the experience and will continue to grow and support horticulture.”

writer PETER WHITE photographer LUKE MARSHALL

Jono’s job on his family’s apple and boysenberry orchard changes with the seasons, which is one of the things that gives him so much work enjoyment.

“I have a management role on the orchard, which involves staff supervision, weekly planning, agrichemical application, machinery operation and repair and maintenance.

“I do truck driving and all sorts of stuff. I love being outdoors and I love how horticulture has a wide range of skill-sets required. As it is an annual crop you are doing different jobs throughout the year from various winter things to spring spraying, and over summer we are harvesting.”

Jono attended Garin College in Richmond, Nelson. In Year 12 he took Biology, Outdoor Education, Materials Technology, English, Economics and Maths.

He says students who like to be outdoors and do not want to be stuck in an office job would be best suited to a career like his in horticulture.

“I was never very academic at school and I found horticulture did not necessarily require big academics to get into it. But it is important to get some qualifications.

“I did a Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) studying through Primary ITO while I worked and I would really recommend it. The industry is really looking for some new young people to get involved.”

KEY FACTS FACTS KEY ■ JONO SUTTON WORKS IN A MANAGEMENT ROLE ON HIS FAMILY’S APPLE AND BOYSENBERRY ORCHARD. THIS ROLE INCLUDES A HUGE VARIETY OF TASKS, FROM TRUCK DRIVING TO AGRICHEMICAL APPLICATION. ■ HE HAS A CERTIFICATE IN HORTICULTURE (LEVEL 3) THROUGH PRIMARY ITO. ■ JONO WON THE 2019 YOUNG GROWER OF THE YEAR, WHERE HE WAS UP AGAINST SIX OTHER REGIONAL CHAMPIONS FROM AROUND NEW ZEALAND.

LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ

| LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #17

For more information Foronmore information on career careers in horticulture opportunities Plumbing and the Youngwith Grower of the World Year visit www.plumbingworld.ac.nz/careers competition, visit www.hortnz.co.nz with for further details on plumbing apprenticeships with ATT, visit www.att.org.nz

HOOK, LINE AND SINKER

writer PETER WHITE photographer KATE MacPHERSON FISHERMAN

SET YOUR SIGHTS ON THE SEA I love being in the fishing industry WHAT I ENJOY MOST ABOUT IT IS THE JOB ITSELF. IT IS WHERE I HAVE MET MOST OF MY LONG-TERM FRIENDS, AS WELL aS aS MY FIANCE ’.

19

ANDREW BARCLAY

ANDREW BARCLAY just loves being out on the ocean taking in the incredible scenery in all weathers.

The 24-year-old New Zealand Māori works for Sealord in Nelson as a fisherman.

He started in the fishing industry at the age of 16 on the FV Ocean Dawn where he spent two-and-a-half years learning and working in the factory.

“I then moved onto the FV Aukaha for another two-and-a-half years working the freezer area in the factory before progressing towards the deck,” he says. “I have worked my way up since then to become a Senior Deckhand with both Bosun and 2nd Mate experience.

“This is the career path I am most passionate about and wish to further up-skill in the future.

I love being in the fishing industry and what I enjoy most about it is the job itself. It is where I have met most of my long-term friends, as well as my fiancé.”

Andrew does not mind the conditions of the sea.

In fact, he reckons one of the best parts about it is the occasional time big waves crash around the boat.

“I spend about six months a year out on the water and just love it. Life at sea is great and I meet new friends every trip we go on.”

Sealord has provided the opportunity for Andrew to thrive and also improve upon his qualifications.

After leaving Linwood College in Christchurch after Year 11, he has since achieved further qualifications through Maritime New Zealand, including a New Zealand Certificate of Proficiency in Advanced Deckhand Fishing.

He works two six-hour shifts a day when he is working on a 30 days at sea, 30 days off roster.

The time off is great for him to enjoy his other loves of diving and hunting.

Andrew studied PE, Cooking, Woodwork, Maths, Science and English in his last year at school but could not wait to get out on the ocean. It is where he is happiest.

He says the fishing industry offers good long-term prospects for school leavers who are prepared to put in the hard yards.

“There are plenty of opportunities in moving up through the ranks with Sealord. They are the best fishing company around. They are looking at buying new boats and are always looking for people to be crew members. If you work hard they will put you through your tickets and help you along the way.”

The best advice he can give to school leavers is to just give it a go.

“All you need to do is enrol online with Sealord and just do one trip. Like myself you might find you love it. I am still there nine years later.”

KEY FACTS ■ ANDREW BARCLAY WORKS AS A FISHERMAN FOR SEALORD GROUP LTD AT THEIR NELSON BASE. ■ HE HAS GAINED QUALIFICATIONS WHILE WORKING, INCLUDING A NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN ADVANCED DECKHAND FISHING THROUGH MARITIME NEW ZEALAND.

For more information on a career in the fishing industry with Sealord, visit www.sealord.com/nz/careers

■ ANDREW WORKS TWO SIX-HOUR SHIFTS A DAY WHEN HE IS WORKING ON A 30 DAYS AT SEA, 30 DAYS OFF ROSTER.

LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #17

| LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS

writer SARA CARBERY

20

// photography MADELEINE SMITH

USING ART TO PROMOTE CULTURE

AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST MAIA WHAREWERA-BALLARD spent much of her time at Trident High School in Whakatāne with a paintbrush in her hand.

“I spent all my time painting in every class at high school,” she remembers. “It was my get-away from having to think about being a teenager.”

With the encouragement of her art teacher Maia made the move to Auckland from Whakatāne at the end of Year 12 to study for a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) at Whitecliffe. Now in her final year of the degree, Maia is looking at doing a master’s degree next year while working part-time as an artist.

The 21-year-old appreciates the freedom she has at Whitecliffe to explore the content of her work and develop ideas. “I chose to study at Whitecliffe because of the independence in leading my own research and having one-on-one time being tutored by artists.”

She has also enjoyed talking to her tutors about their experiences working as artists.

I WOULD LOVE A CAREER THAT IS ART BASED, WHETHER THAT’S IN A GALLERy, ORGANISAtIoN, in the community, teaching or helping others.

“The values, roles and what it is to be a woman who sits on the boundaries of being half-caste Māori and English.

“I would love a career that is art based, whether that’s in a gallery, organisation, in the community, teaching or helping others.”

The four majors offered within a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Whitecliffe are Fine Arts, Photo Media, Fashion Design and Graphic Design.

MAIA WHAREWERA-BALLARD

To study Fine Arts, students need NCEA University Entrance or an equivalent Cambridge International Examinations or International Baccalaureate award, preferably including practical art and/or design and English.

Her long-term goal is to be a Māori artist who helps people at home and abroad understand why ethnicity and culture are important.

Discretionary Entrance is available to students who have gained exceptional marks in NCEA Level 2/Year 12 and wish to embark on higher-level study. These students must display a high level of motivation and maturity.

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS

“They are setting you up to be an artist with real expectations,” she says. “This has come with amazing opportunities to meet and exhibit alongside other emerging artists and build relationships within the industry.”

Maia says Maths, English, Art and Art History have all been useful subjects for her studies.

“In Art, I learnt how to paint and put a concept into my paintings. In Art History, I learnt about history and historical art movements, which helped me to understand history and contemporary depictions and research.”

English has helped her understand contextual content and data in academic research and Maths has helped in the building of museum models and canvases when figuring out the dimensional value of objects, where to situate works “ and much more”.

Maia says her time at Whitecliffe has helped her develop an understanding of what her purpose is.

21

KEY FACTS ■ MAIA WHAREWERA-BALLARD IS STUDYING A BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS AT WHITECLIFFE. ■ SHE HAS AMBITIONS TO WORK AS AN ARTIST AND TO CONTINUE HER STUDIES BY STARTING A MASTER’S DEGREE.

For more information on studying Fine Arts through Whitecliffe, visit www.whitecliffe.ac.nz

■ MAIA FOUND HER BACKGROUND IN THE NCEA SUBJECTS ART, ART HISTORY, ENGLISH AND MATHS TO BE EXTREMELY USEFUL FOR HER UNIVERSITY STUDIES.

Art Design Fashion Tech Whether you’re looking for the skills and confidence to land a great job, or want to shape your future by learning from creative thought leaders, Whitecliffe has a range of programmes to suit you.

Enrol now, fees free applies whitecliffe.ac.nz Anne Park

MED BOOK BOLD CARPENTER 22

IT’S ALL WORTH IT

FROM APPRENTICE TO EMPLOYER writer SARA CARBERY // image BCITO CODY WEBBY set himself a goal when he left Pakuranga College at the end of Year 12.

He wanted to finish his carpentry apprenticeship and be qualified by age 21.

Cody achieved this and now, four years on, he is running his own company – Central Residential Builders – in Auckland.

The 25-year-old has gone from being the apprentice to employing two.

“The apprentice life is good,” he says.

“Turn up, get told what to do each day, do your best and learn along the way. Best of all, you get paid.”

Cody’s interest in building was sparked by working on building sites during the school holidays. Straight out of school he started as a labourer with a local builder, proved his worth and was taken on as an apprentice. “As you could imagine, any job straight out of school is always going to be a challenge but sticking to the essentials made my journey easier.”

These essentials include being punctual, being respectful and doing what you’re asked to the best of your ability.

There are two pieces of advice he wishes he received early on, though.

The first is to look after your body, and the second is that your career is a marathon, not a sprint.

In Year 12, Cody took Automotive Body Repair, Automotive Mechanics, PE, Hard Materials, Maths and English. The latter three subjects were particularly useful in his apprenticeship, he says.

THE APPRENTICE LIFE IS GOOD. TURN UP, GET TOLD WHAT TO DO EACH DAY, DO YOUR BEST AND LEARN ALONG THE WAY. best of all, YOU GET PAID. CODY WEBBY

“Hard Materials made me familiar with tools and working with timber and Maths and English are important as your building career will forever

involve measurements, math equations, scopes and specifications.”

As director of Central Residential Builders, Cody has meetings with clients to understand their ideas and dreams then project manages and constructs the project, alongside his team. He’s currently working on a new home with an apprentice, while his business partner is working on a big renovation project with the second apprentice. They have a number of smaller jobs on the go as well.

A keen fisherman and diver, Cody says he enjoys everything about being a carpenter “from meeting the client and understanding the work to be done, to breaking down these enormous jobs into small tasks and chipping away at them with the team.

“I enjoy standing back and seeing what I can create,” he says, and is looking forward to one day building his own home.

While building has its challenges – “It requires daily problem-solving and clever thinking to overcome complications or heavy situations” – Cody hasn’t looked back once since embarking on his building career.

His advice to others interested in a carpentry apprenticeship is to “ride the waves. It won’t be easy, you will have to work hard, you will be challenged mentally and physically but at the end of the day, as you look back at your creations, you will agree it was worth it.”

Cody did his carpentry apprenticeship through the Building & Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), New Zealand’s largest provider of apprenticeships.

KEY FACTS ■ CODY WEBBY RUNS HIS OWN BUILDING COMPANY, CENTRAL RESIDENTIAL BUILDERS, IN AUCKLAND. ■ IN YEAR 12, HE TOOK AUTOMOTIVE BODY REPAIR, AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS, PE, HARD MATERIALS, MATHS AND ENGLISH. HE HAS FOUND THE LATTER THREE SUBJECTS TO BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN HIS ROLE. ■ CODY COMPLETED HIS CARPENTRY APPRENTICESHIP THROUGH BCITO AND NOW EMPLOYS TWO APPRENTICES. LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ

| LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #17

For more information on carpentry apprenticeships through BCITO, visit www.bcito.org.nz/apprentices

OPTOMETRIST

AN EYE ON THE FUTURE 24

SEE THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY WITH OPTOMETRY writer SARA CARBERY // photographer ALAN STEVENS “I love the satisfaction that comes when you give someone glasses for the first time to help them see clearly. Usually their whole face lights up and it totally changes the way they view the world,” says BRIDGET FIELD.

Before she started working part-time at an optometry practice while at high school, Bridget had no idea what optometry was about, but she quickly became drawn to the profession.

These are the things the 24-year-old enjoys most about her work as a graduate optometrist at Specsavers Mount Maunganui.

In her final year at Waimea College in Nelson, Bridget took Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Statistics and History, which have all proved useful in her studies and career.

“I found eyes fascinating and I loved how the job had a mix of science, health and people interaction.”

Her job involves performing eye tests on people, from toddlers to 100-year-olds, including finding the right prescription for their glasses and performing a thorough eye-health check.

“There was a lot of science involved in my study, especially physics. Statistics has been helpful for when I had to analyse data for research projects at university and is still helpful now when reading science articles and papers and interpreting the results. History really taught me how to research and write assignments well.”

Bridget studied for a Bachelor of Optometry at the University of Auckland, the only university in New Zealand that offers a BOptom degree.

“I loved my time at Auckland Uni,” says Bridget.

“It definitely had its challenges as it was not an easy course, but I learnt so much during my time as a student, both in the lectures and outside of this.”

A career in optometry to transform eye health Optometry is about more than just glasses and contact lenses. Through the treatment and management of eye conditions and disease, Optometrists help to improve their patients’ way of life.

An optometrist’s work is meticulous and precise. As health care professionals, optometrists aim to provide the best possible health outcomes for patients by using their knowledge of how the eye functions to treat and manage vision problems.

At Specsavers we are focussed on providing the highest level of optometry care in all our stores. As a group of passionate professionals, our optometrists are committed to reducing the rate of avoidable blindness in New Zealand.

We're on a clear mission to transform eye health in New Zealand — and we need more people like you to join us on that mission. For more information contact:

anzprofessionaldevelopment@specsavers.com

BRIDGET FIELD

Earlier this year, Bridget went to Fiji for nine days to participate in an outreach facilitated by The Fred Hollows Foundation and supported

by Specsavers.

“I went to Fiji because I was grateful to have been given the opportunity to study optometry and I wanted to give back to the community,” says Bridget. “However, I left Fiji having gained a lot more in return.”

If you’re interested in optometry as a career, Bridget recommends having a chat to your local optometrist and maybe shadowing them for a day to learn more about the job.

OPTOMETRIST

She spent one week in Suva helping to train nurses in the fundamentals of eye care so they would be able to take this knowledge back to their communities, and two days performing eye screenings in villages and giving ready-made glasses to those who needed them.

25

“It is such a rewarding job. It also has a really good work−life balance, which I hadn’t even considered in high school but is very important to think about.

“Also, don’t let the physics put you off; it’s worth it.”

KEY FACTS ■ BRIDGET FIELD HAS A BACHELOR OF OPTOMETRY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND. ■ SHE WORKS AS A GRADUATE OPTOMETRIST AT SPECSAVERS MOUNT MAUNGANUI. ■ BRIDGET PARTICIPATED IN AN OUTREACH IN FIJI FACILITATED BY THE FRED HOLLOWS FOUNDATION, WHERE SHE HELPED TO TRAIN NURSES IN EYE CARE AND PERFORMED EYE SCREENING.

For more information on studying Optometry through the University of Auckland, visit www.optometry.auckland.ac.nz For more information on Specsavers’ Graduate Programme, visit https://opportunities.specsavers.com.au/ explore-careers/graduate-optometrist

LOOKING TO START YOUR CAREER IN THE FAST FOOD INDUSTRY If you are looking for your first job or a cool place to work look no further!

We pay above minimum wage and the more training you complete the more you can earn.

We also have Delivery Driver jobs that are super flexible.

www.kfcjobs.co.nz www.carlsjrjobs.co.nz www.pizzahutjobs.co.nz www.tacobelljobs.co.nz www.restaurantbrands.co.nz/our-people

APPRENTICESHIPS

APPRENTICESHIPS: JUMP ON THE FAST TRACK

26

HOWTO GET YOUR FOOT INTHE DOOR writer JOSH WILLIAMS // images GOT A TRADE? GOT IT MADE! For those of you who are ready to get into the workforce and GET AHEAD FAST, an apprenticeship is a fantastic option.

job. Bonus, you won’t rack up a student debt either!

And that’s just starting out − if you work hard and do a good job, your income will increase quickly.

various industries are looking for women, as well as men. There are lots of female apprentices excelling and if you’re ready and willing to work, you can too.

The basis of an apprenticeship is this: as part of your job, you work towards gaining skills and qualifications that are recognised all over New Zealand and respected all over the world. As you read this, about 50,000 New Zealanders are working towards a qualification this way.

Also, the work is good. Apprentices learn how to do real stuff in the real world − building things, fixing things, caring for people, growing and preparing food, giving people great experiences.

You will become a skilled person who knows how to do stuff and New Zealand needs lots more people like that to keep things ticking in our cities, towns and rural communities.

So how do you get an apprenticeship? Getting your foot in the door is definitely the hardest part.

So start knocking on those doors. Some industries don’t even advertise jobs because they know enough people will approach them directly.

Make sure one of them is you!

In an apprenticeship, you have a job, so you get paid. While it won’t be megabucks, you will be working in a skilled trade or service role and likely be doing far better than you would with a student

And to you amazing young women, there is no such thing as ‘a man’s job’. All these amazing careers across

Your teachers and careers advisors have probably told you that you need a CV and that an interview is usually required. So here are some tips on what it is that employers are looking for: ■ IF YOU MEET AN EMPLOYER, LOOK THEM IN THE EYE. It’s not to give them attitude, but just to show that you are really interested. Being keen to learn is pretty much the number one thing employers look for, so try and get that across.

■ WORK EXPERIENCE REALLY HELPS. Any part-time jobs or volunteering you have done will matter to an employer just as much as your NCEA results. If you don’t have any work experience, then practice talking about a time at home or school when you worked as part of a team, or when you had to organise your time to get an assignment done on time.

■ USE YOUR PHONE TO MAKE PORTFOLIOS. Future chef? Take photos of your culinary creations. Future automotive? Make videos and photo diaries of your tinkering.

The truth is you might not always land the job of your dreams straight away, but it’s about getting in the door and showing interest and then taking any opportunities that come your way. If you want to be a chef, then a job doing dishes is the best place to see a real kitchen in action. Ask the chef if you can come in early one day and watch how they put something together, it’s that kind of thing that shows you’re interested.

For more information on Industry Training Organisations and employers offering apprenticeships across a wide range of industries, visit www.itf.org.nz/itos

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PUT THAT FIRST FOOT ON THE LADDER

EMPLOYMENT ADVICE

NO JOB IS A DEAD-END JOB writer DIANA CLEMENT // photographer LOGAN WEST

Not everyone starts their working life with a degree under their belts or even an idea where their career will take them. But even entry-level jobs can lead all the way to the top.

When Jacob Colligan signed up Even part-time cleaners can work for Red Shirts in Schools Gateway their way up, as Palmerston North training in 2014, little did he know mother Melissa Pearce did when that he’d be working his way up at she started as a school cleaner with The Warehouse’s head office five OCS Group NZ. years later.

Melissa realised that her supervisor After completing the 10-week at OCS earned more than she did course, the then-Year 12 student and set her sights working her way at Birkenhead College was offered up one role at a time. Fast forward part-time work on The Warehouse 15 years and Melissa is now Regional shop floor at Glenfield Mall in Branch Operations Manager for OCS. Auckland. The following year he Starting as a frontline cleaner or was recruited for a fulltime job. security guard but then working It was at that point Jacob says the your way up is not unusual in the career path open to him fully dawned company, says Carole Norris of OCS. on him.

If you have the ability to do the job, Future development opportunities put your hand up, show ambition and were discussed at his interview motivation then you’ll get yourself including the possibility of working noticed, Carole says. That’s the same up to the role of store manager. with most organisations.

Jacob’s ambition kicked in almost Most young Kiwis who start working as soon as he started working for at McDonald’s think of the job as a The Warehouse. He realised that he means to earn some money. Yet there enjoyed the job and customers and are employees who have progressed relished working for an iconic brand. from part-time crew member at their The Warehouse identified his talent local McDonald’s restaurant to highly potential and placed him on a future paid corporate roles. That includes leaders course. He landed various the last three managing directors. promotions and secondments.

“As soon as you start training, you start He eventually moved into the head earning credits towards a diploma office in the operations team for in hospitality,” says Katrina Felton, The Warehouse and Warehouse McDonald’s Director of People and Stationery where his current role is Operations. “For students who aren’t Operations Workload Specialist. sure what they want to do when leaving school, Macca’s can be a good School and university leavers often option as they’ll get accredited training find themselves working on the bottom rung of many organisations. while they work out their plans.”

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NOT EVERYONE STARTS THEIR WORKING LIFE WITH A DEGREE UNDER THEIR BELTS OR EVEN AN IDEA WHERE THEIR CAREER WILL TAKE THEM. BUT EVEN ENTRY- LEVEL JOBS CAN LEAD ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP.

The NZQA accredited training pathway furnishes its young employees with transferable skills for other jobs in the hospitality industry.

The company has an externally recognised barista qualification as well, says Katrina.

Not everyone can progress from an entry-level job up the ranks without

some form of training. In-house training works for many, but in some cases it may be necessary to do part-time study or even complete a fulltime course along the way.

Qualifications can be easier to study for if you know where you’re headed and the benefits of that qualification.

DID YOU KNOW? ■ THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO BEGIN A CAREER AND YOUR FIRST JOB MAY BE FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT EVIDENT AT FIRST GLANCE. ■ ENQUIRE WITH YOUR EMPLOYER ABOUT FURTHERING YOUR TRAINING, COURSES YOU CAN ATTEND AND YOUR ADVANCEMENT PROSPECTS. ■ McDONALD’S LAST THREE MANAGING DIRECTORS BEGAN THEIR EMPLOYMENT AT McDONALD’S AS PART-TIME CREW MEMBERS.

For more information on career For more information opportunities with Plumbing on starting to planWorld your visit www.plumbingworld.ac.nz/careers career, training options with for further on plumbing anddetails to discover a few ideas, apprenticeships with ATT, visit www.careers.govt.nz/ visit www.att.org.nz plan-your-career

LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #17

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GETTING INTO THE STUDY ZONE STUDY TIPS

TOP TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR STUDY

28

writer SARA CARBERY // image iSTOCK It’s staying brighter for longer and starting to feel like summer... we must be getting close to exams!

Luckily, there is no need to panic. Take a look at these tips that will help you make the most of your study leave.

A few weeks out from your exams, put together a study timetable that lists

what you’re going to study and when.

Be as specific as possible by breaking each subject up into topics you need to study. This helps you to get straight into study each day as you know what you’re going to do.

Mixing it up is good. If you stick to one subject for too long, your brain can start to switch-off.

So, schedule some algebra after novel studies, for example. If possible, mix up where you study too, so as to keep things interesting. Find a number of quiet, distraction-free spots and move between them.

Don’t spend time revising stuff you you already know. On the flip side, if you don’t understand something, it is important to ask for help or go online and see if you can find the answers.

There are many ways to revise.

Examples include drawing mind-maps or diagrams, making notes, answering past papers, writing cue cards, asking someone to test you, highlighting important words or ideas, putting key-word posters on your bedroom wall or ceiling, or writing skeleton essays. Find a combination that works for you.

Making notes is a great way to memorise a lot of information.

The aim is to move information out of your short-term memory and into your long-term memory. You’ll recall information more readily if you write your notes out by hand rather than typing them. Reading your study notes aloud can help the information stick too because you’re processing your notes audibly as well as visually.

Take short frequent breaks. Research shows that 25–30 minute study sessions work best, as your concentration levels are higher. At the very least, aim to break every 50 minutes for 10 minutes.

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NCEA EXAMINATIONS – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ■ YOU ARE PERMITTED TO TAKE PENS (BLACK AND BLUE INK ONLY), PENCILS AND AN ERASER INTO THE EXAM ROOM IN A CLEAR PLASTIC BAG. ■ YOUR SCHOOL ARRANGES THE LOCATION OF THE EXAM ROOM SO GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO FIND OUT WHERE THIS IS BY ARRIVING AT LEAST 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE EXAM STARTS. ■ YOU CANNOT LEAVE THE EXAM IN THE FIRST 45 MINUTES OR THE LAST 15 MINUTES, EVEN TO USE THE TOILET. ■ EXAM SESSIONS START AT EITHER 9.30AM OR 2PM, YOU CAN VIEW THE EXAM TIMETABLE AT: www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/ncea-exams-and-portfolios/external/

national-secondary-examinations-timetable/

■ RESULTS FROM END-OF-YEAR EXAMS ARE RELEASED AROUND MID-JANUARY IN THE RESULTS SECTION OF THE NZQA WEBSITE.

Look at plenty of past exams and exemplars. These are available at: www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications standards/qualifications/ncea/subjects Mornings are a good time for note taking, as you’re feeling fresh. Before bed is a good time to look over your notes and commit them to memory because your brain processes new memories while you’re asleep.

Make the most of your study time by minimising distractions. Leave your phone in another room and shun all social media. Ideally switch off the wi-fi if you don’t need it for study.

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Keep healthy. Drink plenty of water and eat healthy snacks to keep your brain humming.

Make sure it’s not all work and no play. People who find the right balance between study and leisure are the ones who get the top marks.

Exercise, in particular, is really important as it increases your heart rate and makes your blood circulate faster. This supplies more oxygen to your brain, which increases productivity and reduces tiredness and stress. Fresh air helps too.

Happy studying!

WE ARE HEADING INTO EXAM TIME

writer JENNIFER BECKETT // image iSTOCK

IT IS ESSENTIAL YOU MAKE TIME FOR self-care as it REDUCES STRESS AND ANXIETY AND INCREASES ENERGY AND CONCENTRATION

In my role as psychologist at Massey University I see a lot of students who feel overwhelmed with stress around exam time.

My advice for coping, and even enhancing exam performance, during this stressful time is to increase self-care.

By self-care I mean looking after your physical, mental and emotional health. Self-care often goes out the window around exam time, as students feel they don’t have the time to exercise, eat good food, get enough sleep and spend time with friends. However, it is essential you make time for self-care as it reduces stress and anxiety and increases energy and concentration.

Self-care is the constant repetition of many tiny habits that will keep you at your optimum – emotionally, physically and mentally. Mindfulness – the practice of being in the present – is an important part of this. Let’s imagine you’re sitting studying. How many times does your mind drift-off into the future or the past, even for only for a second?

Mindfulness is the ability to recognise when you are drifting and to bring your attention back to what you are doing, repeatedly.

Tuning into your five senses can help anchor you in the present.

SENSE OF SOUND

There are many apps that can help remind you to be in the present. ‘Mind bell’ has a Tibetan bell that sounds randomly throughout the day. Each time the bell rings, notice what you are doing, relax your shoulders and take a deep breath. Listening to a recording of waves at night-time may help you

to focus on the soothing sound, rather than the thoughts going around in your head.

SENSE OF SMELL

You can use pleasant smells to anchor you in the moment. A mindfulness group exercise I often do is passing around lemons. I have people notice the weight and feel of the lemon, then scratch the skin and notice the smell. For people feeling overwhelmed or panicky, it might help to bite into a lemon and use this to anchor yourself.

SENSE OF TOUCH

Different textures can be soothing to touch and most $2 shops sell stress balls with a variety of textures, from jelly to spikes.

Research suggests that patting a dog or cat can be particularly soothing, can calm anxiety and boost your mood.

SENSE OF TASTE

Eat a good variety of healthy foods that will provide you with energy. If you have a treat, enjoy it – be in the moment with the taste and texture.

SENSE OF SIGHT

Break up periods of study by going for a walk. It is great for sore muscles and will give your eyes a break from staring at a screen or book. A mindful walk involves paying attention to what you can see around you.

You can incorporate your other senses too – notice the things you can smell, the feel of the sun or wind on your skin, the feel of your breath, the sound of your steps and anything you can taste in your mouth.

If you have times when you feel panic and anxiety, you could use the TIPP skills created by Dr Marsha Linehan: ■ Temperature change (hot or cold) ■ I ntense exercise (like 20 sit-ups, for example) ■ Paced breathing ■ Progressively relax your muscles.

One of the most useful of the TIPP skills for extreme exam anxiety is temperature change that stimulates our mammalian dive reflex.

You can do this by dunking your face into a bowl of very cold water for 30 seconds, coming up for breath as you need to.

This can quickly calm panic, and then you will be more able to think clearly about which of the other techniques you can use to be mindful and calm.

These techniques aren’t only useful for exams.

Once you’ve figured out what works for you, you’ll be able to use these techniques whenever you’re in a stressful situation.

Jennifer Beckett is a registered psychologist who works for Massey University’s Health and Counselling Centre (Albany).

She is the owner of Albany Psychology Clinic.

LEAVING SCHOOL ISSUE #17

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TIPS FOR STRESS

SELF-CARE IS CRITICAL 29

FINANCIAL SKILLS 30

AVOID THE QUICKSAND

LEVEL-UP YOUR FINANCIAL SKILLS It’s too easy for students to get sucked into a quicksand of debt.

Like many young people, leaving school or moving out of home means you are handling your own living expenses for the first time.

Banks and lenders know many students want more money. Lending is very profitable for banks and that’s why they put so much effort into getting you to sign up for their overdrafts, credit cards and personal loans.

The banks aren’t being kind or flattering to you by offering you money. There is no glory in having a huge credit limit. Debt really sucks.

The banks know that once hooked, you’ll probably stay with them through your big earning years.

BEWARE OF SLICK SELLING

Lenders make borrowing money sound easy, and even sometimes the normal thing to do.

Their adverts scream: “fast cash now”, “live your life”, “a brighter way to borrow”, “flexible same day loans” and “no fuss lending”. Some of these companies charge interest at several hundred per cent a year. Ouch.

CREDIT CARDS AREN’T A GOOD THING

At orientation week the banks will be out offering to sign you up.

Yes, get a credit card. Credit cards can be good for a true emergency. But remember the money you’re spending isn’t yours and you’ll have to work to pay it off eventually.

Getting into the habit of using credit cards could be creating a bad habit that is impossible to break later in life.

If you use credit cards as an everyday way of paying or have every day “emergencies” when you want to buy Uber Eats, you’re not being smart with it.

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feature writer DIANA CLEMENT

OVERDRAFTS AND PERSONAL LOANS HAVE TO BE PAID BACK

It’s a rite of passage getting your first overdraft.

It may feel like you’re being an adult. The most sensible adults, however, do everything they can to avoid overdrafts, personal loans and other types of consumer debt. Make do with what you have or only use debt if you truly are only buying essentials, not nice-to-have things and experiences.

WATCH OUT FOR ‘BUY NOW PAY LATER’

One of the latest ways to get yourself into debt is using Afterpay and other similar providers such as PartPay, Oxipay and Laybuy.

Young people often love these deals and most large, and a lot of small, retailers offer them.

You can even buy now pay later for things like concert tickets and second-hand goods on Trade Me. It seems easy. You don’t have the money this week but can pay it off over four weeks.

The companies make lots of money with penalties charged if you have a bad week and miss a payment. They rely on consumers to be less than organised or take on more payments than they can really afford.

They also get you into the mentality of buying stuff you may not really need.

It’s too simple to build up a huge debt, one coffee or Domino’s pizza at a time.

The only real way to avoid this is to create a budget with a set limit for “fun” money.

You don’t need to live like a monk. Be kind to your future self, however. If you don’t control your spending then at some point you’ll be struggling to pay your loan and other debt back.

Smart students avoid the debt and they’re not suckered in by the slick marketing language. Make sure you’re one of them.

AVAILABLE FREE ONLINE www.leavingschool.co.nz

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WE T WAN R U O Y N O I S S A P Know what you want to do after school?

Whatever you’re into, you could do it in the New Zealand Defence Force. There’s over 109 roles available across IT, communications, engineering, logistics, people-focused work and so much more. Some roles require a degree and some don’t. And in some cases we’ll even support post-grad study while you work or learn on the job.

Get curious. Register now at defencecareers.mil.nz