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Personal Story: FROM ICC TO MASTERS in 5 STEPS
James Kinred
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In the late 1990s’ my world came crashing down around my ears (neck actually). I suffered a career ending injury, both sporting and working. I was involved in a tackle in rugby that prolapsed three (3) disks in my neck, to this day I can still remember the moment, still a vivid memory, looking down at my left arm as it hung listlessly from my shoulder with no feeling in it at all. Over the next 2-3 weeks it regained its strength to about 55-65% of what it once was.
That was it, the doctors informed me that my sporting career was over and that I could not continue to work at what I had always done, manual labour in both sawmills and the bush. Over the following months, merging into years, I had trouble sleeping, couldn’t even drive a car, but the worst thing was not be able pick up my young son. I was at this stage feeling sorry for myself believing I was good for nothing, thinking is this as good as it will ever get.
Several years and numerous operations later I was at a stage where I could do something, work wise, again but up till my injury I had relied on my strength to get work now I found myself ill equipped to start back in employment.
Step 1
Taking the first step.
Having left high school at a young age, after not achieving much, here I was 20 years older and returning to a classroom. I still remember sitting in class the first time thinking is this really where I want to be. The answer to that was NO but I had no choice the work life I had enjoyed was now a distant memory, I had to apply myself and start all over again.
I knew I had to retrain but had no idea what I wanted to do so went along to a short night class (4 nights –one night a week) at the then Waiariki Polytechnic. Found I liked it so enrolled in the ICC (Introductory Certificate in Computing) course which at that stage had been going for two weeks. Man was that a shock having never enjoyed being in a classroom. I applied myself and struggled through that semester.
ICC was at an introductory level covering a wide range of topics from basic accounting to basic maths through to communications and office systems. I found ICC personally rewarding as it got me out of my comfort zone and put me into situations that forced me to participate in class and interact with others in the class.
I completed ICC end of 1992 and reflecting on what I learnt the most important lessons were that effective communications was essential. I went from being the quiet person sitting in the back of the class to someone that readily participated and interacted with others in the class.
Step 2
Continuing education
While I realized that getting my ICC certificate was a personal achievement I knew it wasn’t enough. I realized that I needed to get to at least Certificate level but really needed to aim at Diploma level. I then went on to study CBC (Certificate in Business Computing) in 1993, finding that the six months spent on ICC was a huge bonus. Classmates that had gone straight into CBC without the introductory class found CBC very difficult, for me personally I found the first six months a breeze, ICC had prepared me well.
I ended up finishing the year successfully passing the CBC certificate and gaining an award for top student for the year. This would have to be the toughest year of my life physically, not only was the workload constant but my health was still fragile, thank god for prescription drugs.
The next step was in 1994 started ACBC - which has since been renamed as Diploma in Business Computing. Due to health issues again, I managed to achieve half the required credits for the year, though I did miss more classes than I managed to attend.
Step 3
Get working, paying of some of my student loan
1996 - started with Waiariki as a staff member. I had gone a long way by the middle of the year to gaining the necessary credits for the Diploma, but half way through the year was asked to fill in for a teacher at the polytechnic for four weeks, that was 6 years ago. I applied myself to the task and my colleagues were invaluable at this stage, I achieved my Diploma about this time as well.
I was able to credit some of my papers to DICE (Diploma in Computers in Education) offered by Waikato Polytechnic but jointly hosted at Waiariki and Waikato.
Step 4
Masters
Completed my DICE qualification and was able to enroll in the Masters programme at Curtin University (Perth, Australia). This involved lots of weekend time and many late nights. Took me the better part of four years to finally achieve my masters in October 2002.
Step 5
Realizing what is really important
When I now reflect on the last ten years it is easy for me to see what is important. Where once I thought getting the certificates was important I now appreciate that it was the journey that was important, the gaining of the skills I learnt along the way that make me the person who I am now. I now have a very personal appreciation of how critically important education is.
I now accept responsibility for my own learning and I believe I can achieve whatever I work hard at.
Looking back over the years I can honestly say that I have been inspired by some teachers, have had some teachers waste my time, have had teachers demand more from me than at times I chose to give (work wise) but have learnt so much and really enjoyed most of it.
To this day the friendships I made in those classes are some of my dearest and I look back now and think WOW time just flies when you do something you really enjoy. I heard a saying recently that if you do something you really enjoy then you will never work a day in your life. While the saying is crap I agree with its sentiment. My one big regret is not having started the journey sooner. What got me through the tough times was the love of my wife and children that supported and believed in me no matter what.
James Kinred
Waiariki Institute of Technology
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