Katie – Multiskills
Level 1 Multiskills
What made you choose to study this course?
“I like to do stuff hands-on, instead of just writing all the time, and I knew I couldn’t do an office job or anything like that, I am very active. I enjoy fixing stuff, decorating, and all those types of stuff.
Ever since I have come to Dearne, I’ve not had one thing wrong or bad happen here; it is a good College, and I like it. The class sizes are much smaller, and this helps a lot because you get more help when there is less students, the tutors get more time for each student if they need help.“
What skills have you developed on this course?
“Probably working as a group and learning what a metre is, what proper communication is, as if you’re working with a group, then you’ve got to say right this is what we need to do now.”
Katie“When I was first looking at it, I was thinking oh no, it is just going to be full of boys and I didn’t want people judging me or thinking differently, but they haven’t. If this is something you want to do, then do it, because I did it and I’m having the time of my life.”
How has the College supported you so far?
“Chris is a diamond. If he can see I am getting a bit stressed out, he will come over and either show us what to do or tell us what we need to do in more depth, so he is always really good at helping.
I also had a meeting with a lady in support because I struggle with reading, so she has helped by giving me blue paper and has given me a time-out pass in case I get too stressed. So, I feel everyone in the College is here to help, and you can go to them to talk if you need to.”
What part of the course have you enjoyed the most?
“Probably learning how to plasterboard, because although my first time doing it, it was rubbish, but it was my first time and it was still fun being able to actually put it onto a wall and make it into a wall instead of it just being some wood and slabs, so I feel like that has been my favourite. But it has all been good, learning different things every time you go into a lesson.”
Do you have any advice for future students?
“Just do it. Especially girls, because when I was first looking at it, I was thinking oh no, it is just going to be full of boys and I didn’t want people judging me or thinking differently, but they haven’t. If this is something you want to do, then do it, because I did it and I’m having the time of my life.
I fit in, all the lads make me feel very welcome. There may not be girls in your course, but there will always be girls doing the trade, and it shows that we have the strength to do it. We definitely need more girls in the industry, it is fun, and you learn a lot, you get nice and strong, it is good, so just do it! None of the lads has ever said to me, ‘Well you’re a girl, why are you here?’ A lot of them actually tell me a lot of the good things I can do, so they lift me up instead of putting me down.”
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
“After I do plastering next year, I might go to Rotherham and do Electrical, so I can have multiple trades, so I have more to offer. Somewhere in the construction industry, definitely.”
Find out more about Construction courses at Dearne Valley College.
