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“Without my TAFE experience, I would not be where I am today. I would not have the enthusiasm and passion to do what I am doing.”
Child care student Erin Rowland wants to change the world one child at a time.
The 24-year-old from the Centre for Health and Community Services has made a great head start in her ambition by winning the Outstanding Student of the Year – Vocational category.
Erin was ecstatic at winning the award.
She said she discovered child care as a vocation when she came to Box Hill Institute to undertake the Diploma of Children’s Services.
“I just came into the course as a pathway to university and I fell in love with child care even though it was something I never thought I would ever want to do,” she said.
“I love it, I don’t want to leave. I wanted to do primary teaching but child care is the greatest thing I have ever done.”
She said working in the child care industry required dedication and passion.
“It’s not a job, it’s a career. People come into it and think they can just do an easy job or that it’s just like babysitting,” she said.
“But it’s actually a real tough job and you feel like you make such a difference at the end of the day when you get a smile from the kids.”
Erin said she wanted to work with children, parents and child care staff to change society’s focus on the busyness and pressures of life and create positive environments for children.
“I’m aware that children have very busy, often scheduled lives, which is a reflection on the current social, economic and political issues of today,” she said.
Erin is now undertaking a Bachelor of Early Childhood Development at Monash University but credits Box Hill Institute for instilling a passion for young kids.
“Without my TAFE experience, I would not be where I am today. I would not have the enthusiasm and passion to do what I am doing,” she said.
“I just had a great rapport with the teaching staff and they have given me heaps.
“Passion is what they have given me and made me want to stay in child care and make something of the industry.”
01 August 2005
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