Since opening in 1998, Carinity Education Glendyne has helped hundreds of Fraser Coast teenagers achieve positive educational outcomes.
With Glendyne celebrating 20 years educating local youths this week, three past students have shared how attending the school helped change their lives for the better.
JADA PERKINS:
“I was a typical teenager that didn’t like school and wanted to be with the cool kids and wag school. When I was sent to Glendyne I didn’t know what to do or think. If it wasn’t for Glendyne I wouldn’t be where I am today.
“In Year 10, they helped me get a traineeship with the RSL in serving food and beverages and since then I am now employed at a hotel and love what I do. I know I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for Glendyne.
“The school helped me in so many ways. They didn’t just teach me basic stuff, they taught be how to be an adult. I have nothing but good things to say about this school and sometimes I wish I could go back and do it all over again.
“Next year I will be doing a course to become a youth worker because it was the teachers and youth workers at Glendyne that inspired me to do this. And I just pray that I can help kids like me.”
KALE HENDLE:
“I started off as a rebellious teenager. Drinking and smoking at the age of 13 which then led to wagging school and getting excluded from the two main high schools. I ended up at Glendyne, which eventually led to me being expelled for a period of time.
“They put on an anger management class that took seven weeks to complete but as I had been expelled I went and worked, which I didn’t like because I hadn’t developed my own confidence and my own personality.
“Glendyne gave a second chance which I grabbed with both hands. I ended up being school captain on my return and winning the Grade 11 ADF Certificate. I’m a qualified roofer now.”
ROCHEAL KEOGH:
“I was a very scared, lost and depressed person before I was welcomed at Glendyne. Glendyne made me feel like I was a human and showed me how to build my strengths and confidence. Before I was someone who was left behind and given up on pretty much.
“The staff were amazing and we definitely had some amazing trips where we got to learn about other students and life skills that we all needed. Especially cooking; I loved every second we had in the kitchen. The teachers did all they could to help us pursue our goals, complete our certificates we needed for it and teach us in a more hands-on way.
“There are no real words I could think of to describe how thankful and how much I appreciate the time and effort the staff put in to helping us out, never giving up on us. How amazing they all were.”