Mia Trood
When Mia started her Certificate IV in Youth Work at Chisholm Institute of TAFE, she was worried that she hadn’t studied for a while and might not have the skills to be successful in further education.
At first, she was not confident about her written work and assignments and was afraid to speak up in class; she was anxious about possibly saying the wrong thing.
Gradually, she shared openly in class about her struggles in secondary school, where she felt like she was different to everyone else and didn’t fit in.
During the course, Mia transformed into a confident, young professional, who was patient, kind and respectful.
She worked hard to develop her writing skills, as she knew she would need to write case notes as a youth worker. And she demonstrated great empathy for diverse communities and cultures.
Her determination was recognised when she was selected as a finalist in the Vocational Student of the Year category of the 2024 Chisholm Education Awards.
She credits her educators for giving her lots of support and positive feedback that helped to build her confidence. She now wants to help make a difference for other young people through youth work.
Mia’s advice is to set a goal and give it a go; “happiness comes from being yourself,” says Mia.