Before starting Gateway this year I was nervous mostly, but also excited and grateful for the opportunity.   I did two taster days, one working in the retail side of pharmaceutical and my second day was at Little Wonders Early Childhood Centre.  I am really interested in a career in Early Childhood Education and decided to do my full time placement at Little Wonders to find out what it is really like. 

Some of the tasks involved are assisting children with simple tasks and developing their skills to complete them, preparation of activities that are beneficial for the children and clearing safe learning environments for them to play in.  I attend a course at Ara Institute where I go for 1 day every month, I have theory assessments to complete and practical things to have signed off in my workplace. 

I will get 12 Level 2 NCEA credits through the course and some really good practical experience to help me decide if this is a career I would like to continue in. 

 Next year I plan to return to school to gain NCEA Level 3.  I am enjoying the Gateway Programme it is really opening my eyes for the future and I’m excited for the rest of the year in Gateway.