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AMAA: Redefining pathways to success

originally posted on 20-08-2021 5:56 PM

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Success means something different to everyone: finishing uni, starting a family or having good health, to name a few. It can be hard to work out what it means to you, especially when influencing factors shape your idea of success. Things like: societal pressure to complete milestones by a certain age, high expectations of us from teachers/family or ourselves.

 

The pressure can get overwhelming when you're studying for exams or finishing school/uni. There might even be times where your plans change out of the blue, a significant life event happens, or you go through a rough patch. The good news is there are ways to support yourself to get through it!

 

This month our "Ask Me Almost Anything" is all about sharing ways to pursue your version of success and juggle life's unexpected twists and turns. So bring all your questions because we've got two amazing guests that I'm so excited to hear from.

 

This time we are chatting with two Youth Ambassadors of Reach Out, introducing:

 

Nigel

 

Nigel, 25, is an Honours Graduate who studied a Bachelor of Science Advanced Global Challenges. Throughout his career he has worked in many industries from corporate, startups, retail, hospitality, scientific research institutions, to government. These opportunities have taken him from Melbourne and Sydney, to working in Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands. 

 

Currently he works for the Victorian Department of Health in the Mental Health and Wellbeing division. In his spare time he is a Youth Ambassador for ReachOut Australia, loves many sports, photography, and outdoor adventures. Success to him is having purpose in the work he is doing. It's not about your job title, the money you earn, or what other people think of you. He believes success is about purposeful work and happiness in doing what you love.

 

 

Jordan

 

My name is Jordan and I am currently studying Nursing with the goal of one day being a paramedic or working in mental health. I have worked with ReachOut as a Youth Ambassador in the past and am currently working as an Australian Youth Advocate for Mental Health in partnership with Headspace. I have two cats named Mia, and Pippa, and I love coriander. My definition of success is trying your hardest despite all the odds, and getting to the end destination regardless of how long it took or the route you wound up on to get there. 

 

They'll be sharing their experience of navigating their career and mental health, and we'll be answering your questions! So, send them through to us using the google form below:

 

 

 


We'll be here chatting on the 31st of August between 7pm - 9pm. Hope to see you there! 

Bre-RO
Bre-ROPosted 17-03-2022

Event Details

This event has ended

31 Aug 2021, 9:00 AM UTC

31 Aug 2021, 11:00 AM UTC

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    Nigel-YA
    Nigel-YAPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:32 PM

    To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from tertiary study when I was in high school. My own experiences were seeing my brothers go through university throughout the week. 

     

    University was totally different to high-school. You aren't surrounded with the same people for months on end and so was a new experience. I enjoyed that! For me I studied science (an area I found interesting) and completed the course start to end. But I know many friends that changed course or changed career completely whilst in tertiary study. 

     

    Looking back, I enjoyed that I developed a really close group of university friends who have the same values and morals as I do. Their support means everything to me and I did not expect my friendship group to change over the years. I still keep in touch with some high-school friends. But as I have changed and grown over the years, so has my friendship group. 

     
     
     
    Bre-RO
    Bre-ROPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:35 PM

    It is such a different experience to school - but with new experience comes opportunities for growth. Like having a wider friendship circle is an exciting part of leaving school as well! 

     

    It's sounds like being led by your personal interest really helped you get through your course!

     
     
    Jords_km
    Jords_kmPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:27 PM

    I thought I would like university more than I did. I didn’t particularly enjoy campus life and thought I would be a lot more social. I know some people loved their tertiary study, made lots of amazing friends and had a great time. I personally didn’t and found I really missed the structure of school. I like being ‘taught’ content and having facilitated lessons as opposed to the weight of learning resting primarily on you. I struggled with self-directed learning and procrastinated when I had to teach myself content as I learn best from others and by doing.

     
     
     
    Hozzles
    HozzlesPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:34 PM

    I completely agree!

    I remember thinking I'd make so many friends, be active in the social life, have a brand new start... nope, it wasn't that easy! Ironically, it took me years into my degree and the pandemic for me to start making some great uni friends (everyone gathering online was a big help, haha).

    I hate how uni is structured sometimes. There's pretty much no leeway for rest or if you're sick. If you're away for a week it starts to pile up! They tend to make things due in the one week of break you get! I don't know if I could even handle uni at all if it wasn't for some brillant lecturers and the disability resource centre. Also, being a psychology student and a mental health advocate, it sometimes amazes me how little of the content is applicable in real life... 

     
     
     
     
    Bre-RO
    Bre-ROPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:39 PM

    I'm so glad you're getting support/ guidance from your lecturers and disability resource centre. But yes - very concerning ab out the lack of real life application to psychology haha. That's why people with lived experience are so valuable in that space!

     
     
     
     
     
    Jords_km
    Jords_kmPosted 17-03-2022 07:16 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:41 PM

    Very true. Lived experience counts for a lot

     
     
     
     
    Nigel-YA
    Nigel-YAPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:37 PM

    The pressure of uni assignments can definitely creep up! I unluckily injured myself in my fourth week of 1st year uni and the uni support services were super helpful to make sure I stayed on track and had the support I needed for exams and assignments. 

     
     
     
    Bre-RO
    Bre-ROPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:31 PM

    Thanks for your honesty! I find uni education the same. It's so helpful to get to know what your learning style is and for a lot of people self-directed learning just isn't their thing. Have you found the TAFE structure to be a better fit? 

     
     
     
     
    Jords_km
    Jords_kmPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:38 PM

    Funnily enough yes. Whilst I underestimated the course (we have a 100% pass rate compared to unis 50% pass rate), I have found the teaching to be a bit more hands on. 

     
    Bre-RO
    Bre-ROPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:11 PM

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    Thank you to the community member who asked this question. I connect with it on a personal level and I am sure lots of people will. Our next question is: 

     

    You both sound really successful! As someone who was really successful in school my mental health has made me go 'offtrack' in hitting a lot of life milestones 'in time'. Have you guys ever felt like this, or what do you think of the idea of life milestones in today's society?

     
     
    Nigel-YA
    Nigel-YAPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:17 PM

    For me I grew up feeling like life was prescribed for me - go to school, go to university, graduate, find a job, buy a house, find a partner etc. 

     

    What I realised since finishing high school is that there is no age or time you need to get anything done by. I am lucky to be in a job that gives me purpose, but I am still figuring things out for dating and relationships. 

     

    Everyone goes through life at their own speed and where you are in life right now is exactly where you are meant to be. Milestones are what you want them to be. You can achieve them at whatever time is right for you. 

     
     
     
    RevzZ
    RevzZPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:31 PM

    > there is no age or time you need to get anything done by

     

    I realised this very late in life (just last week) but it's literally now my driving force.

     
     
     
    Hozzles
    HozzlesPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:21 PM

    Yeah, there's no prescribed time limit for anything! Everyone has their own circumstances, and their own time line. There's no manual to look back on!

     
     
     
    Jords_km
    Jords_kmPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:20 PM

    This is exactly right. It's taken me a long time to learn and appreciate this but it's so true

     
     
    Jords_km
    Jords_kmPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:16 PM

    I 100% feel you. In school at one point I was top of my class, doing really well and took on three major works for year 12. By the time year 12 happened my mental health severely impacted how I went in the HSC and when I started struggling to keep up at university I feel quite ashamed. I definitely saw myself as a failure for stepping back and focusing on my mental health. And even the age I am now, so many people I went to school with are married, having kids, in their career of choice and I feel like I’m only just finishing my tertiary study. I absolutely feel behind at times, but you really do have to remind yourself that we all run our own race. I try to remind myself of this regularly. You are still achieving goals even if it looks different to others. Whilst I’m not yet in my career of choice, nor married, or whatever else people consider “successful” I have done a lot of mental health advocacy and overcome incredible mental health obstacles. I have travelled, am studying and I am where I need to be. Working on your mental health counts for a lot.

     
     
     
    Bre-RO
    Bre-ROPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:23 PM

    Everyone goes through life at their own speed + we all run our own race 

     

    Quotes of the night from both of you so far. I couldn't agree more!

     

    There is so time limit on when you complete certain milestones, or if you ever do. The best part is that there is no limit on the number of attempts you get at going after your dreams. 

     

    As Jordan said, working on your mental health counts for a lot. We might be recognised for it with awards ceremonies and certificates - but we do get huge rewards

     
     
     
    Nigel-YA
    Nigel-YAPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:22 PM

    Working on yourself takes a lot of courage and intentionality. I have huge amounts of respect for you putting in the effort!

     
     
     
     
    Jords_km
    Jords_kmPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:24 PM

    Thank you ❤️ And your story is inspiring me quite frankly haha!!

     
    WheresMySquishy
    WheresMySquishyPosted 17-03-2022 07:14 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:06 PM

    I have to go now, but I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this amazing chat later!

    Thanks so much for chatting with us @Jords_km and @Nigel-YA!

     
     
    Bre-RO
    Bre-ROPosted 17-03-2022 07:15 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:11 PM

    Thanks for joining us @WheresMySquishy@WheresMySquishy !

     
    Bre-RO
    Bre-ROPosted 17-03-2022 07:14 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 7:57 PM

    I vividly remember being so overwhelmed by the pressure to study something straight after school. It was confusing to work out how to get a foot in the door - so I love this question. 

     

    Tell us about how you've navigated establishing a career!

     
     
    Nigel-YA
    Nigel-YAPosted 17-03-2022 07:14 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:04 PM

    There is this quote by Steve Jobs where he said “You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

     

    I had no formal plan for my career. I have chosen areas I found interesting or areas I want to learn more in. Looking back and connecting the dots, I have realised that I have developed many transferable skills because of the different opportunities I threw myself into. Whether it was volunteering, part-time retail jobs, or doing internships - I just gave them a go and learnt along the way. 

     

    Many of these experiences I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I had to ask lots of questions, ask for help, and figure it out as I went. Over time, I became more confident in my ability to try new things and tackle new problems. Every day I am learning something new and I think it has been my mentality to give things a go regardless if it is scary. 

     

    You can learn so much about yourself by pushing yourself out of my comfort zone! I did this repeatedly and looking back I can now connect the dots which at the time made no sense at all. 

     

     
     
     
    Bre-RO
    Bre-ROPosted 17-03-2022 07:14 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:10 PM

    Oooo I love that quote and it's just so true!

     

    It must be interesting now to look back on your journey and connect the dots. What really stands out to me is your openness to new challenges without being too invested in the result. I think there's something so valuable in being in it for the experience and not for the outcome.                          

     
     
     
    Hozzles
    HozzlesPosted 17-03-2022 07:14 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:08 PM

    Oooh I love that quote! Definitely accurate! We can never know for certain what the future holds. 

     
     
     
    Jords_km
    Jords_kmPosted 17-03-2022 07:14 PM

    originally posted on 31-08-2021 8:05 PM

    That's amazing. I love that

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