Blayde Now On A Career Path Thanks to His Mentors

Year 12 student, Blayde, from Heatley Secondary College in Townsville will graduate from school in November and is looking forward to commencing an apprenticeship.

Finishing school was not always looking certain for him but through the efforts of his school and a mentoring program he has been able to set some goals for himself and also lift his grades.

In 2023, during Year 10, Blayde completed a mentoring program run by the Inspiring Brighter Futures Foundation, where he connected with a mentor and successfully set about changing his life trajectory.

Over eight weeks, participants in the Onwards & Upwards Wellbeing Program delivered to students and young people in public, flexi, and private schools, undertake a personal development and mentoring program that uncovers and embraces their values as individuals and takes a deep dive into their wellbeing, motivation, resilience, and accountability.

Attributes mentors work with students in developing include: their outlook on life, motivation to succeed, engagement with school, developing trusting relationships with adults, setting and achieving goals, and building positive relationships with peers and teachers.

“The program helped me find myself in a sense,” says Blayde. “I had felt like I couldn’t get introduced to someone new without feeling like they might be out to get me.

“My mentor, Maddie, was fantastic. It took a while for me to get comfortable and open up, but she has given me a lot more self confidence.

“With what was going on with my parents being in jail, and not having that much support, she basically taught me to get over my insecurities and kind of think in a way where I don’t self-sabotage what opportunities there are for me before they even come along.

“She explained to me that I should look at doing something in life that I enjoy, not to just think just about the money, and to do something I like so it’s not a drag.

“She helped me set goals for finishing school and in what I want to do afterwards.”

Blayde will aim to get an apprenticeship as a diesel mechanic and look to work in the mines in the future, something he had shown an interest in pursuing.

On the support he has received from his school, Blayde said, “Miss Adams-Thompson has supported me since Year 8. She pushed me to be the person she knows I am and has pushed me to do my best. I’ve been close to getting kicked out of school but she has given me chances. I am now getting As and Bs for my subjects instead of Cs and Ds.”

The Inspiring Brighter Futures Foundation is conducting over 80 programs in 2025, focusing on its core groups of young people facing challenges, emerging student leaders, and job seekers.

ENDS media enquiries to Brenton Gibbs 0419 828440 [email protected]