Not all students thrive in the traditional education model, and that includes Liam. Liam, a Year 11 student at The BUSY School Cleveland Campus, is not your typical teenager and was thinking ahead to more practical skills that will assist him in a career path. Through The BUSY School, Liam has found a different path—one that intertwines learning with real-world experience.
Before coming to The BUSY School, Liam was not engaged with the curriculum at his previous school. Reflecting on his education journey, Liam stated, “I was suspended a lot because of mucking around in classes I wasn’t interested in… I just didn’t understand why those classes were necessary.”
Wanting to do well but frustrated with his progress, Liam and his family sought an alternative. His transition to The BUSY School marked a turning point.
“I enrolled, got accepted and then never looked back,” he recalls. At The BUSY School, Liam found a supportive environment tailored to his needs, where smaller classes and practical learning replaced the stressful school experience of being forced to attend.
“Starting at The BUSY School was different,” Liam reflects. “I wasn’t used to the smaller classes, and the teachers being there for you.” He shows his gratitude to his educators’ remarkable dedication, stating, “The teachers are straight up and tell it as it is. You can tell they want to be here and want to help.”
For Liam, the key to a fulfilling education lies in work experience. “I’ve done three or four work experiences, and it took me that to work out what I really enjoyed,” he explains. “You can’t just say you want to be a ‘chippy’ and do years of that to find out you don’t really enjoy it.”
Now, Liam spends three days a week as a marine mechanic apprentice—a role he describes as ‘stoked’ to have. “I can’t complain at all about The BUSY School,” he says with a smile. “I’m getting better grades. Not much more I can say.”
But Liam’s vision extends beyond his own experience. He advocates for more work experience opportunities and wants more students to seize these opportunities. “My solution for education is for more businesses to open their doors to work experience and more students to walk through those doors,” he asserts.
Grace, the Employment Pathways Officer at The BUSY School, was instrumental in Liam’s journey. “My apprenticeship had some troubles, but Grace got it sorted and had my back to make the whole schooling easier,” he acknowledges.
As for the future, Liam dreams of entrepreneurship and adventure. “I want to own my own business… or travel the world as a deckhand on a million-dollar super yacht,” he muses.
His message to struggling students? “It gets better, one hundred percent it gets better” Liam assures. And to the BUSY School teachers? “Thank you for teaching me about tax, home loan deposits and budgeting- it is so helpful.”
In a system ripe for innovation, Liam stands as a young spokesperson with hope in his eyes. As he eloquently puts it, “The BUSY School… it’s hard not to like.”
For those seeking inspiration, Liam has a simple piece of advice: “Come to the BUSY School! Just try.”
With young advocates like Liam leading the charge, the future of education looks brighter than ever.
As part of his school curriculum, Liam has now commenced a school-based apprenticeship as a marine mechanic, thanks to The BUSY School.
