New program puts career ambitions in the spotlight

From architects to artists, mechanics to musculoskeletal surgeons, Blackfriars students are thinking about what they might like to one day become.

The boys have been among the first students in the state to take part in the BECOME program – described as a “new approach to careers education”.

Blackfriars has worked with Catholic Education South Australia to this year introduce BECOME, as a pilot program, to students in Year 5, 7 and 9.

Blackfriars Learning Engagement and Pathways Coordinator Carl Todman said the program allowed students to better connect their learning to potential post-school pathways.

“When students have access to engagement in career-based activities, it helps them to see a connection between the learning at school and the future,” Mr Todman said.

“It (BECOME) connects their interests … so they see more relevance in school. So it gives them a purpose in ‘why do I need to do this?.”

The program culminated last week, with the Year 5s creating elaborate displays showcasing their career ambitions.

“It was incredible,” Mr Todman said of the showcase. “There were kids who want to be a paleontologist, for example, and they’ve realised they need to go to university to do that. And some of them were even talking about pre-requisites.”

BECOME also aligned with Blackfriars’ strategic plan, which highlighted a “stronger focus on career development pathways”.

“The boys might just form ideas, and they might change, and that’s all good, but they’ve got some sort of thinking around their strengths, at least,” Mr Todman said.

“The kids that we see that whizz through years 11 and 12, in terms of where they are going, are the kids that know themselves. They know what they are interested in and they know what they are good at and they know what they are passionate about.”

Following his participation in BECOME, Year 5 student Zack Fantis thinks he might like to become a residential architect.

Zack has learnt about all the skills he will need to design homes and even knows what ATAR he needs to guarantee entry to the Bachelor of Architectural Studies at UniSA – 70.00. Before BECOME, Zack didn’t know what an ATAR was.

His classmate, Vinnie Pinneri, is eyeing a career as a professional soccer player. He knows it won’t be an easy path, but he’s prepared to put in the hard work.

“I have to exercise every day, practise every day, do workouts, have a good diet,” said Vinnie, who plays club soccer. “There is a subject here (at Blackfriars) … Building the Body, and I’ll do that, too.”

Jack Galkowski wants to run his own business, selling gaming hardware and software.

“I’ve basically thought about it since I was probably 7 –  ‘What do I want to do? What do I want to do when I grow up?’ – but it’s only now I realise that this is what I want to do,” Jack said of his involvement in the program. “I might change my mind, but I don’t think so.”

Gaming was also the inspiration for Liam Vella, who thinks he might like to be a video game designer.

“People say I am very artistic. And, like most people, I like video games. I’d like to be known as a video game designer,” Liam said. “I will have to study maths and go to do some art clubs. I reckon I would need to study computer science.”

Josh Schiller wants to work in event planning. He has already had some experience, working with his aunt and uncle at their wine company.

“I’ve been to a couple of those functions and helped out and I found it quite enjoyable,” Josh said. “I enjoy designing stuff and I am quite creative.”

Going forward, he plans to study hospitality, business and management.

Blackfriars plans to continue delivering BECOME into the future.