ESC students reflect on past work experience, before this year's cohort heads to the workforce

EUROA Secondary College Year 10 and 11 students are about to head out to experience what it can be like to put on a professional face and try out a possible career or two. This is a fantastic opportunity for the students to try on a few careers and see what fits. At this time in their lives most students are starting to consider where they will be after school. One former work experience student who is currently in Year 12, Elle Bott, reflected on her opportunity to try out a career in the arts, a vocation she is planning to pursue after school. Elle had a clear picture in her mind of a possible future career and ESC work experience week gave her the valuable freedom to participate in working at the National Gallery of Australia, located in Canberra. Elle’s time at the NGA involved her in events including tours conducted for people with different abilities, such as the Sydney Nolan exhibition for the deaf, a tour for the blind which was description based, a tour for people with dementia and a "Sensory Sunday" for neurodivergent teenagers. “Work experience at NGA was amazing," she said. "I was involved with the gallery’s education department which involved a range of different daily activities with schools. “I was able to present an activity for a student group on the Grand Canyon which was well received and helped me appreciate more about art through teaching. “The highlight of my seven days was being in the conservation department, especially as I am absorbed by history. Elle said she is interested in art curation. “Work experience was great, and I definitely recommend it to other students," she continued. "I had to push to find out about being able to work in a creative field and I recommend to others to be proactive in their search for your future career. "Everything you do now, in school and out, has something to do with what you have learnt at school.” 2025 will be a busy year for Elle as she plans to do a gap year and learn French, with the aim of teaching English in France. “I would love to go to England, to travel with friends, save some money; I can make coffee,” she said. Year 11 student Alister Kubiel is another ESC student who embraced the opportunity work experience offers students. He spent his time expanding his skills with local artisan, Catherine the Jeweller, who specialises in the design, repair and custom making of jewellery. Alister enjoyed his experience, as this work enabled him to involve himself in an area of the arts he had not explored. “The reason I chose jewellery making was because it was something different, something that I could be interested in the future,” he said when asked why he selected the jewellery making profession. “During my five days with Catherine I was able to work with a range of different metals such as copper, brass and silver. "I was able to design my own ring and then actually make it. "I appreciated working in a calm environment where I could chill out and get lost in the work. “It felt like playing sometimes especially when I was working with the beads and making earrings.” Presently Elle, who has a Kwon Lee Dow young scholarship, is applying for a Hansen scholarship at Melbourne University. “At Melbourne Uni I plan to study art classics, or history, or French, or all of them," she said. "Maybe I will do a minor in history and Dip Ed in French.” Alistair also expanded on his thoughts for the future. “It would be great to be able to try working in the fisheries area," he said. "I am hoping that next year I will be able to do the ESC Year 12 VET outdoor education classes. "This year I am attending a TAFE course on plumbing through ESC and am enjoying that.” He added: “If the opportunity presented I could also see a future career option in the creative arts.”