I look back at my time at St Bede's with great memories and thankful of the friendships I made during those years.

When I look back now, it's fair to say that friendships, sport, and socialising took priority over English, Math and Science.

When I left school, I didn't have a clear idea of what my career would look like, except that anything involving abstract thinking, or a trade career was a no-go zone (only for the fact that my brother received the DIY gene).

I did come away from St Bede's having been told that if you 'give it a go', you never know where that may lead. After spending a few years working in Christchurch I headed to the UK and spent around 4.5 years there working in a HR/Recruitment sector. I enjoyed every minute of it so when I returned to NZ, I joined a large American HR / Recruitment company that had set up operation here. I spent around 17 years working for that business, became the NZ General Manager and travelled throughout the world with them. I loved every minute of it. I think a defining moment for me in my career was working for this American company. I don't have a Uni Degree but the training, development, and experiences I gained from that opportunity was 'my university'.

A couple of people/mentors along the way helped and guided me. I think every young person entering the workforce today should find a wise head/elder they can learn from and lean on when needed.
Some young people today know exactly what they want to do when they leave school. That's great. If not, don't worry...but keep your eyes open to opportunity. Travel (hopefully we can soon) is a great way to build self-confidence, take you out of your comfort zone and expose you to experiences and opportunities you may not get here. Employers love people who have travelled and worked overseas.