Confidence through Education

To successfully make the transition from high school student to a qualified concreter CC is learning that it’s not just about passing units. Along the way she has ‘powered up’ her learning and life skills through a number of courses run by Education Unlimited within the Ako Whakaruruhau programme. A critical part of Ako Whakaruruhau is the support network wrapped around her to ensure she goes from strength to strength.

BCITO apprenticeship Training Advisor Ellie Cragg says that education has provided her with increased confidence.  Through the BCITO and Education Unlimited Core Skills programme in 2021, Ellie says “she is really coming into her own. She’s taking the bull by the horns, is enthusiastic in her approach and is much more confident to move through her assessments, knowing that if she needs clarification, she can seek it and knows how to ask.”

This year, continuing with the Empowering Leaders has meant she has made gains in other areas says Ellie. “She is really starting to step up in other ways too. She also acts as additional support for the store for the City Rail Link project”.

This involves checking tools in and out for workers, briefing any visitors to site, making sure they are given the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including self-rescuers for breathing. CC says it means she must apply all she’s learnt about organisation, time management and communication skills. She’s also learning that just because you don’t wear a manager’s hat, it doesn’t mean you can’t lead and have influence.

Powering up her learning in other ways, CC is implementing many of the skills taught through Future Ready: Money Confidence, a micro credential that sets learners up for financial success. She says, “The money confidence course taught me about different types of lending and how interest on loans works – they don’t teach you that at school!” Her tutor, Maureen is really impressed with CC’s dedication “She never misses a session and she’s powering up her learning with the right combination of skills”. CC says she has already put some of these skills to use setting SMART goals to set herself up for the future.

CC is thankful for the guidance and support surrounding her. She looks up to her inspirational mentor, Roimata Maihi who was matched with her through Ako Whakaruruhau. Roimata is equally impressed. I first met CC in 2019, as a young 17-year-old. “Through education she’s consistent, she’s clever and she’s grabbing all the knowledge she can. I notice she’s always taking the lead, often working late, and organising the crew. She’s one to watch for sure”.

Through Education Unlimited, CC has completed Core Skills and Future Ready: Money Confidence and is completing an Empowering Leaders programme.

You can download a copy of CC's story here