This is a great site for senior school students to find out about careers. Curtin University has created it so expect a Curtin slant.
Tag Archives: Year 11
I think you are smart/kind/important!
Life’s easier if you have a support team with no dickheads.
Step 1 Know that people love to help others
When you ask someone for help with your life/career they hear you saying… ” I think you are smart/kind/important/ and powerful enough to help me to succeed.”
Only a total dickhead will knock you back and you wouldn’t want that person on your team anyway.
Step 2 Choose your team
Identify your ideal team of 6 – 8. They can just be people you like. They don’t even have to be a real people, you could have Luke Skywalker on your team.
When you have identified your ideal team look at each one and say WHY you chose them.
Did you choose Luke Skywalker because he will never turn to the Dark Side or because he is powerful, loyal to his friends, and great at using a lightsaber?
Identify the 3 – 4 key characteristics of EACH of you team members.
When you have finished look at the strengths.
These are the strengths you value.
If you have chosen 3 or 4 people because they know how to use a lightsaber, you must REALLY want to know how to use one.
You get the drill. Apply this principle by checking which strengths on your list are mentioned more than once.
Step 3 Act
Check out your whole family, friends, teachers, sports coaches and identify those who could help you to develop those strengths? Then act to build your support team.
Pick 2 strengths to concentrate on. Figure out just 2 things to do with the help of the people who could help you to build those strengths.
- You may just need to hang out with some and copy what they do. Or
- You might want to ask them to help you to …. never turn to the Dark Side, become more powerful, be loyal to friends, and become great at using a lightsaber. (Or whatever strength you want to grow.)
In West Australia building a network is a great way to create opportunities for yourself. It’s called Standing on the Shoulders of Giants and it’s a shortcut to success.
Step 4 Have Fun
Have fun building your strengths. Your team will keep helping you if they are having fun. 
Join the In Focus Careers Network
This morning a teacher told me about a student about to go into year 12 who wants to apply for medicine at Curtin. The family plans to take a 6 months holiday in Europe at the start of next year.
Curtin’s selection process favours West Australian year 12 students who want to study medicine straight away, not after a 6 month holiday in Europe. If this student goes to Europe on the family holiday she will significantly reduce her chances of gaining a place in medicine at Curtin.
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Year 11 – The Brink of a Great Adventure
If you are starting Year 11 you are on the brink of a great adventure.
Year 11 is when you start to consciously unearth your uniqueness and explore how you are going to make your contribution to the world.
Last year you watched your friends in Year 11 as they discovered that being smart wasn’t enough and that they needed to study.
Last year you watched some Year 11s get engaged with opportunities and they became remarkable.
Now it’s your turn to have a go. Be remarkable!!
Great Adventures Require Great Planning
As this is your first time in Year 11. You will not know what to do. You don’t want to look too keen, too dumb or too different. 
Be smart. Don’t do it all by yourself.
You can stand on the shoulders of giants.
Who do you look up to? Who has some interesting ideas that you can tap into?
Do some research. Start developing relationships. You just need a couple of ideas to follow up on. Your adventure will start to build.
Great Adventures are Hard Work
The Darwin Awards tell the sad stories of idiots who tried to have an adventure without the right skills and knowledge. 
Surviving your great adventure will require a special set of skills, designed for your particular environment.
- Revise your study skills.
- Figure out your learning style – knowing that will help you to take shortcuts and study more effectively.
- Get a job or volunteer. It will help you to learn more than you can imagine. You can find how to do that on Seek.com.
- Form alliances with teachers….. who will be pathetically grateful if you seek and value their expertise.
- Get a coach or mentor. These are easier to find than you think. There are mentors at universities, professional organisations, unions, local clubs and associations. You can tap into the vast resources of your school alumni or pay a coach to guide you.
If you are having trouble figuring out how to get one contact me, Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au and I will help you to find one.
Comedian Eddie Perfect said something like….
When you are going through the jungle you can’t see anything… you just go…okay…. I’ll try this.
When you come out the other side you look back and go…
OH WOW LOOK…. THERE’S A PATH!
It seems obvious.
But it’s not.
Your unique path through your adventure isn’t obvious. No one knows what your adventure will be.
Your dreams will come to you in a whisper, not a shout. Listen for one tiny idea to guide your way…. and that will be enough.
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