In high school, physiotherapy was often suggested as a career path because I was strong in STEM and enjoyed sport. But I wanted variety and problem solving, so I chose to study a degree in Construction Management instead. That decision shaped a career I’m incredibly proud of. Construction has given me the variety I wanted…
During high school I had no idea what career path I would take – I had a passion for dancing (at one point I actually thought I wanted to pursue that full time) but also enjoyed academics. I ended up studying a dual degree of Journalism and Law at university – not because I knew…
I always liked the idea of working part time in the office and part time outside somewhere. During school, I had work experience with an engineering contractor who showed me the sites they worked on as well as the office. I was hooked! I studied at Loughborough University in the UK, a four-year course with…
I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was finishing school. I’d studied maths, physics and any of the hands-on elective courses that I could literally get my hands on (electronics, automotive, woodwork), because I really enjoyed taking things apart and figuring out how they worked and then putting them back together…
Some people grow up knowing exactly what they want to be; that was definitely not me! High school was not a great time for me, and I missed a big chunk of my senior years due to illness. After graduating, I enrolled in a dual engineering/science degree and picked aerospace for my engineering major (because…
My career path has evolved through a series of defining pivots. When I left school, I initially planned to pursue criminology, inspired by a version of the field that didn’t quite match the reality once I explored it further. After one semester, I shifted to studying International Politics at the University of Queensland, where I…
When I was at school, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up, and honestly, I’m still working it out. I went to university hoping it would buy me some time, so I enrolled in a science degree at UQ and sampled everything: engineering, psychology, technology, human movements… basically career…
As a kid, I was obsessed with re-planning my room and begged my parents to take me to open house inspections, imagining how I’d redesign every space. After high school, I wasn’t sure what to do—architecture sounded amazing, but the maths and science felt scary at the time. I finished a Bachelor of Commerce, but…
When I was in Year 10 at boarding school, I described my exact job I have now to my friends. I remember it so vividly. I would be working at a school but not teaching, I would be helping young people with advice and insights on their future options, and I would have a lot…
I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do when I left school, but I knew I wanted to work with people and have variety in my day. I took a gap year to work and travel, exploring different paths. After experiences in retail, hospitality, and travelling to Italy, I realised I enjoyed helping others…
I was unsure of what I wanted to do with my life when I was 17 and I followed my peers into a Psychology degree at university. I was 3 years in to the degree and still unsure of my future. I pivoted and graduated from a Bachelor of Public Relations & Communications thinking that…
Driven by curiosity about how business works, I started my career in marketing and brand management and made it all the way up to Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Russian Bobsleigh Federation. To take it to the next step, I went to Singapore to study an MBA. At that time innovation and…
I began my career straight out of school, choosing to pursue an apprenticeship rather than complete Year 12. From the start, I knew I wanted to take a different path. I was proud to be only the third female apprentice ever at Energex (at the time), where I went on to spend the next fourteen…
I attended an all-girls school in Peru where arts, math and literature were my favorite subjects. After finishing school, I was still unsure about what I wanted and with the guidance of my father, I enrolled in science but was still open for change. However, a three-month apprentice working in a remote mine gave me…
My journey to becoming an Electrical Engineer has been anything but typical. Although I loved physics at school, my strength in English led me to study it at university. I quickly realised it wasn’t the right path and left to start an Engineering apprenticeship—becoming the only girl among 100 apprentices! After qualifying, I worked as…
I was inspired by the idea that as an educator, I could help shape minds, foster creativity, and empower students to discover their potential. I see education not just as a profession, but as a mission—one that involves patience, empathy, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Pursuing additional qualifications and taking opportunities for continual learning…
When I left school, I knew I wanted to pursue a trade. I’d enjoyed technical drawing and applied to the Polytechnical Institute to study architectural design drafting. Over the years, I changed careers several times but I always found my way back to drafting. The tools of the trade have evolved dramatically, from pens, paper…
I originally wanted to be a pilot – I thought getting paid to travel the world would be amazing. I applied for the Air Force but didn’t get in, and suddenly I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I’ve always been good at maths and problem solving, so I spoke to my mum about…
I had wanted to become a firefighter since I was a child! At the age of 17, I knocked on the door of the local fire station. This station was auxiliary firefighters (on call in small communities), and I was told that I was too young! With that in mind, I found a fulltime management…
When I was in grade 7, I knew I was going to be a lawyer. Initially I thought I would become a divorce lawyer. But I quickly knew I wanted to do more than just be in a court room and argue about cases theoretically. While it took me a while to navigate towards the…