Courtney Train
Determination and persistence have paid off in a big way for Chisholm Diploma of Children’s Services’ graduate Courtney Train.
Initially aiming to secure a primary education place in higher education, Courtney’s Year 12 Enter score led her down the alternate pathway of travel and tourism.
“I worked as a travel agent for a year but soon realised that wasn’t for me as I really wanted to teach young children,” she said.
Approaching Chisholm Berwick, Courtney was offered a place in the Diploma of Children’s Services.
“In the meantime,” she says, “I starting working in a before and after school care centre to get some experience before starting the course.”
On completing her diploma, Courtney worked in a child care centre for a year but the desire to move on to higher education remained strong.
Thanks to the real world practical experience and qualification gained at Chisholm, the entry pathway into higher education was suddenly much easier.
“I’m now undertaking my B. Primary Education,” she says, “along with working for Chisholm as a sessional teacher assessing Certficate III students at their placements.”
Taking seven years to achieve her goal, Courtney now firmly believes that Chisholm should have been her first port of call after Year 12.
“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” she recalls. “We had such a close relationship with the teachers and the environment was such that everyone could have open and constructive discussions in class.”
What really stood out, according to Courtney, was the passion and industry currency demonstrated by her teachers.
“The experience I gained working with children in a variety of environments, while understanding the dynamics of the industry, has certainly made it easier for me to cope with the theory based learning during my first year at university, but it is very impersonal” she notes.
“At Chisholm, It was nice coming into an environment everyday where you not only had your friends but the teachers were your friends. We wanted to learn and we did. I really miss that environment!”
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