Life beyond Radford

I'm currently an Air Traffic Controller with Airservices Australia, working out of Tullamarine in Melbourne. After graduating from Radford in 2011, I completed a Bachelor of Aviation at Swinburne University of Technology. Along with the degree, I completed my Commercial Pilots Licence (along with a few other ratings and endorsements). I worked as a commercial pilot for a short period with small charter company in western Victoria before beginning training as an Air Traffic Controller in 2015.
As for my personal life, I'm due to get married in October of this year (2018) and have a 2 year old daughter, Audrey.

My main passion in life is aviation. It's what I do for a living and as my hobby. I'm also I very keen musician, playing guitar, piano, percussion and ukulele as much as can.

From about year 7 I wanted to be an orthopaedic surgeon. From there, my career goal changed to being a paramedic.It wasn't until the middle of year 11 that I decided I wanted to become a commercial pilot and it took a further 3 years of university study to realise I wanted to be an Air Traffic Controller!

Year 9 camp was a great memory - I loved every minute of it. I also really enjoyed year 12 - despite the unnecessary stress and pressure, it was my favourite year of school.

The staff - I don't think there was a teacher at Radford that I didn't enjoy being taught by. It may have been the fact that we had teachers over at our house (or we went out to their house) for lunch or dinner every other weekend, but I always felt comforted and comfortable around the staff (I think I'm in contact with more teachers now than I am with my school friends (again, likely thanks to mum!)).

The music program and again, staff - the performing arts centre was one of the only places at school that I felt like I could be myself and express who I was in a supportive and happy environment

Richard Browning made a big impact on me - I'm not religious, however I have never known anyone who was so full of life and always happy to chat.

Sally Godtschalk - being my tutor in year 12, she quickly became my go-to teacher. I never needed to have a personal chat with her, but I knew that she'd drop everything to help me or anyone else and having a person like that so close to you gives you a big sense of comfort.

Matt Irving - being as musical as I was, Matt influenced my greatly throughout school and I always looked up to him as I respected the way he taught and his leadership style (not to mention his musical abilities)

H - The most supportive and well rounded person I've ever had the privilege of knowing. He taught me how to respect, how to lead and just generally how to be a good person. I learnt a lot off him in the last 3 years of school, and I don't think I ever truly thanked him for how much he taught and helped me, the school and the wider community.

It wasn't easy. I ended up in my career by trying out something else (investing 3 years of study and gaining a lot of debt) and realising it wasn't for me.

For the most part, yes. I studied what I wanted to, I got my bachelor's degree and a commercial pilots licence and I got my first job flying aircraft for a small charter company. Then I quickly realised I wasn't suited to commercial flying and made flying a hobby rather than a career.

It doesn't matter who you are or who you decide to be at school. Give it 3 months after leaving school and if you're like me, you'll be living a completely different life! Life changes rapidly and you'll learn to embrace it.

Do what you want to do. Never let someone tell you "don't do that, you're to smart to be a (insert career choice here)". It doesn't matter what they think, so long as you're happy.
Also, enjoy being a kid. Enjoy having a lack of responsibility because believe me, you'll miss it!

Do what you want.