QUT student Ricky Geerin had a flashback to his teenage days on the weekend when he met up with students from his old school, Bribie Island State High, at a QUT Explore Uni camp.
Ricky, 24, is in his second year of an education degree at QUT's Caboolture campus and clearly remembers the excitement - and nerves - involved in making the transition from school to uni.
The future teacher now gets to share some of those memories - and his uni experience and tips - with today's school students, as part of his role as an Explore Uni Ambassador.
Ricky was part of a three-day Explore Uni camp from July 20 to 22 that attracted 90 Year 12 students from Bribie Island, Morayfield, Deception Bay, Clontarf Beach and Kilcoy state high schools.
Ricky's own transition to uni was made even more challenging by the fact that he didn't start his teaching degree straight after school.
"I had five years between when I finished school and when I started uni, so I didn't have any school friends starting with me," he said.
"It's definitely daunting at first, particularly when you come from a small town and are used to knowing everyone.
"The best piece of advice anyone gave me was: Don't be scared to speak to someone because you're all in the same boat ... chances are you'll make a friend."
Based at the Camp Warrawee grounds at Joyner, the Explore Uni camp included visits to QUT's three campuses (Caboolture, Kelvin Grove and Gardens Point), the Brisbane North Institute of TAFE, and the TSXPO.
Ricky, from Burpengary, said the camp helped introduce the idea of tertiary study to students who may not have been planning to go to uni.
"They start out at the camp thinking it's just a fun weekend but when I talk to them at the end it's interesting because they discover they've actually got a lot out of the camp and learnt a lot about what it's like at uni," he said.
"I was quite proud of the Bribie kids and their behaviour and attitude at the camp - they were well mannered and great to deal with."
Adam McNiven, from QUT's Explore Uni team, said the camps were fully subsidised by QUT and provided information about study options, career planning, entry programs, financial assistance and support services available at university and TAFE.
"The kids and teachers love it, and we know there are a lot of people studying at uni now who have been to the camps," he said. "About one in six students will go on to QUT, plus more go to other universities and TAFE."
Another Explore Uni camp will be held next weekend for students from Nambour, Kingaroy, Nanango, Isis District, Bundaberg and Maroochydore high schools.
To learn more about QUT's Widening Participation program for high-schoolers, visit www.qut.edu.au and search "explore uni".
Media contact: Mechelle McMahon (Mon/Tues), QUT media unit, 07 3138 9449 or email media@qut.edu.au (Mon-Fri)
