I originally left school in grade 10, to pursue a career as a travel consultant with no intentions of continuing my studies. Fast forward 5 years in the midst of an Australian drought in 2018, I returned to my family property to assist in these tough times, and through that experience, felt as though it was time to do something different with my life and be able to offer a different kind of support in future. I enrolled into the Diploma of Counselling at Open Colleges and I found the content and assignments incredibly helpoful and practical as a student and aspiring counsellor. I completed my Diploma in 18 months and then applied for university to study psychology, in which I gained some credits having completed my diploma. I now work as a rural and small business wellbeing counsellor, specialising in working with communities and families effected by natural disasters & completing my 4th year psychology studies to one day practice as a psychologist in this area. I am very grateful for the opportunities that OC & the teaching staff provided me in this shifting process of my life and I wouldn't be where I am today without them.