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“This is something totally different for me so it’s all new and exciting. Travel interests me because I haven’t done much of it and I’m curious to learn about it. I looked at going to Auckland to study but it’s expensive to live there and I’m still young, so by studying here I can continue to live locally.”
“It’s really exciting to be learning so much and with such diverse content. There are so many topics within tourism and there’s a lot to take in. I love it but it can be overwhelming so I’m learning discipline and how to motivate myself to push through. It’s great being amongst the other students because everyone wants to be there and is committed to learning.”
“I’m learning how big and broad the tourism industry is. It’s not just cruise ships, hostess roles and travel agencies. It’s connected to so many industries and includes things like car rentals and ferries.”
“Completing this course will help me get a good job and sort my life out, and because I’ve come straight from year 12, it enables me to be a year ahead. Next year a friend and I want to go to Camp America – a summer camp for teens – for six months. We get to choose where we go and get accommodation and food as part of the job.”
“My dream is to work within a travel agency helping people plan their trips. I like the idea of working with people when they’re doing something that makes them happy. Travel is something they want to do and I can support them in that.”
School wasn’t supportive for me so I’m amazed at how massive the impact of the tutor here has been on me being able...
“It takes a good tutor to make a good student and the tutor here has made me fall back in love with the tourism industry.”
“I already had a deep love of nature and a strong appreciation of the industry and that has now been made even stronger. I’ve got so much more respect now for what’s involved in being part of someone’s journey and giving them a rich experience. I knew the basics but this has really expanded my perspective.”
“Before I never followed through on what I really knew in the first place. School wasn’t supportive for me so I’m amazed at how massive the impact of the tutor here has been on me being able to study. He has reassured me that anything is possible if we put in the time and dedication. I’ve learnt that to be helped you have to help yourself.”
“Our classmates too are super friendly. We each bring our different stories but we’re all on this path together. Procrastination is the thing I need to watch. I’m a solo Mum of two and a coach for my son’s rugby team so I have to work at finding balance, making priorities and keeping to a schedule.”
“I want to re-introduce people to the natural beauty that is around us. I love taking kids outside camping or biking or walking and getting them curious about the natural world away from technology, and I know I can give a similar experience to others.”
“I’ll take a bit of time off to be with my kids when I finish the course then I’m excited about what could happen. I’d love to be a tour guide helping people appreciate what’s all around us. We can slow down, stop and camp out. I want to be part of their experience and shine a light on their adventure so they can say it was one of the best moments in their life. Being amongst nature is like therapy.”
The stand-out of the course for me is meeting all the great students and tutors here. I’m the youngest in our class...
“A representative from International Travel College came and spoke at our school and really inspired me to want to be a flight attendant for either Air New Zealand or Qantas.”
“I made enquiries and this course was close to home with a great tutor. He has so much experience in the industry plus lots of connections in the industry networks.”
“The stand-out of the course for me is meeting all the great students and tutors here. I’m the youngest in our class so I’m learning so much from other people’s backgrounds and cultures, and by being on the campus is general.”
“The other highlight of the course has been our trip to Auckland visiting different companies within the industry. It really broadened my horizons to the range of job possibilities within travel to the point where I wondered about being cabin crew on a cruise ship.”
“My heart though is more in the air than on the sea. My dream of being a flight attendant has now got stronger and bigger in scope. As part of the course I have work experience coming up at the Copthorne Resort in Paihia and I’m hoping I might get a job from that for when the course finishes.”
“I’m really keen to begin working as a flight attendant but I’m too young to start yet and some work experience first will give me more confidence. After that I’ll be ready to take to the air.”
"It was a big step for me from a small town but our class is small and the whole campus is family-orientated and so I...
“I knew I wanted to work in the travel industry and so I was exploring the options when our class at Kaitaia College went on a tertiary education trip to the International Travel College in Auckland. They said they have a link to NorthTec so I applied, and made the move from home to Whangarei.”
“It was a big step for me from a small town but our class is small and the whole campus is family-orientated and so I fit right in here. The tutors are also totally dedicated and will go out of their way to make sure we get any help we need.”
“I had no expectations, so the whole course content is a surprise to me, especially learning how many sectors there are in the travel industry. My interest is in hotel management but I’m realising how many other options there are to explore so I don’t want to narrow things down too soon.”
“I’ve also been surprised at how confident I’m becoming. We have to do presentations to the class and I’m really pleased with the lift in my own standard – both of in my content and my personal presentation. The support from the other students is a big part of it because they are all really friendly and positive, and our tutor is amazing.”
“The tutor also assures us that we’ll get a job when we finish the course and we already have a placing for work experience. Mine is in a top hotel in Auckland where I’ll be helping with events and conferences, and it may lead to getting a job there.”
“Getting this qualification opens the door to me travelling and working anywhere in the world, and I’m keen to get a much experience as possible. I want to travel all around New Zealand first so I can learn about our country and can share it with customers or clients.”
“After I’ve got some experience, I’m keen to get more qualifications including a Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management. My family is so supportive of my learning journey on every level. I know that wherever I work and live, I will return to our nature and gorgeous beaches to fill my cup. I’ll always carry that with me.”
What I love most about doing the course is that I’m interested enough to focus. Usually I fade into myself but the...
“This was a last-minute decision for me but a really good one. I did lots of subjects at school but had no passion for any of them until I took tourism. I found I enjoyed it and was interested in it and the teacher helped me realise there could be a career there. I hadn’t travelled overseas much but Dad is part of a four-wheel-drive club so that took us all over New Zealand.”
“I explored going to uni but coming to NorthTec means less disruption to my life and I can commute every day from Dargaville. What I love most about doing the course is that I’m interested enough to focus. Usually I fade into myself but the tutor is really helping me to hold my focus. The next level is harder so that will be a challenge and it will be good for me. I’m the only guy in our class but we’re a range of ages and experiences so mixing is easy.”
“The course has opened me up to the scope of work within tourism. I’m realising most industries have, or can have, a tourism aspect and that it’s in a real growth phase in New Zealand now. I work on our family farm at the moment and Dad was keen for me to take that over but it’s not for me. I’m glad I stayed on until year 13 at school because it gave me options, and by doing this course I’ll be able to get an actual career.”
“I’m focusing on passing the course and after that I’ll get work in tourism. A relative lives in Paihia so I hope to be able to live and work there in the Bay of Islands to begin with. I’ll see what other options unfold from there.”
Absolutely everything from the course is relevant to my job. . The best part of the job is talking to the customers...
“When I started the course I wanted to be a travel agent but I gradually became more interested in working in the airlines. I’m now the Airline Check-in Agent for Air New Zealand at the Whangarei airport. The job popped up a couple of months before I finished my course so I applied and got into the next intake after I finished. I’ve been here a year and I love it.”
“Because we’re a small airport, my job ranges from checking in customers, to loading cargo, to helping with boarding. The best part of the job is talking to the customers and making sure they’re happy.”
“Absolutely everything from the course is relevant to my job. We covered customer service, understanding foreign speech, body language, and using the Amadeus check-in system that the airlines use. Amadeus was the toughest part of the course for me but was so worthwhile. We also get training on the job but I felt really well prepared.”
“When I started I was really shy and kept checking in with my manager to see that I was doing OK. Every day I was improving and now I’ve gained confidence and things mostly run smoothly. We sometimes have to deal with people who are angry or frustrated about delays, so my people skills have improved a lot too and I find ways to help them through it.”
“I’d love to be here for a few more years then I’ll think about going to Auckland and training as a flight attendant. I applied for that when I was 18 but I didn’t have the confidence or experience that I’m developing now.”