2020 Gap Year student reflections

As the year wraps up, our three Gap Year students would like to share their reflection on their time at the College this year.

Miss Erin Shepherd

​After graduating from Nagle in 2019, I was lucky enough to be granted the position of the Library Gap Year Student for 2020. As this year draws to a close, I have reflected upon my time here at Nagle as a staff member. It has been an eye-opening experience and I have been able to learn so much. In particular, working on a variety of projects and learning about what happens behind the scenes when it comes to organising and the running of some of the library’s (and the school’s) bigger events. From organising Book Week, helping at the Sports Carnival, working with different teachers, and assisting students and other members of the Nagle community, these experiences have helped me understand what it is like to work in a professional and adult environment, all while having heaps of fun at the same time. This job has been a fantastic steppingstone into future careers, transitioning from the hustle of school life to the full-time work life that comes with adulthood.  I have been able to express my creativity through creating displays all over the school (some of which were included in a national Australian Library magazine), designing posters, and organising Try It Tuesday activities for students. I have valued my time here immensely, and I am so grateful for the opportunity.
For those future Nagle Year 12 students who are considering on having a gap year, I strongly encourage you to apply for a gap year position here at Nagle as it is both insightful and rewarding. 

Mr Rory Wallace

​Many aspects of leaving high school and moving into the real world have always been quite daunting, but nothing was quite as daunting as discovering a future career for myself. However, my experience in Nagle’s IT Department has given me a new direction and allowed me to discover a passion I never knew I had.
Before starting my gap year at Nagle I had not even decided if I wanted to go to university in the future, but within a few weeks I knew IT is what I wanted to do. Walking into the job I was met with a friendly team and a question, what field of IT I wanted to try first. From the  large array of options I was given to choose from, I started out with coding going from the most basic concepts like printing the words “hello world” onto the console to slowly working my way up to more developed concepts and implementations. During my time I have also tried working with servers and other aspects of networking but the challenge of learning and developing my understanding of coding has been nothing less than exciting and my greatest strength. The feeling of accomplishment gained from seeing the solutions I have created in use and the appreciation of staff and students who I have helped have made this experience all the more enlightening and enjoyable.
Working at Nagle has opened my eyes to new possibilities and helped me develop some much-needed life skills regarding the working world and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity I have been given. All the staff at Nagle have been incredibly kind and supportive and I highly recommend applying for this position and any other positions when they are available in the future.

Miss Kate Ovens

Reflecting on my position as the 2020 Health and Physical Education Gap Year Student, I can honestly say it has been one of my most rewarding experiences. Within the role, I have had the opportunity to experience working with a great group of teachers, students from the Learning Support HUB, assisting with organisation of Carnivals, as well as assisting many Nagle students during PE and Health lessons.
The highlight, however, of this position was the opportunity to go on many camps, such as visiting Little Bay and climbing the sand dune, trekking through the Kalbarri Gorges, cheering students at ACC Athletic, Swimming and Triathlon Carnivals and blasting tunes on the way to Gladstone Bay. From these adventures, I gained many new life skills including developing the confidence to drive the Great Wall manual ute, the ability to tow kayaks without getting bogged on the beach, as well as how to fix soccer goal nets.
Throughout this year I have been presented with many challenges such as remote learning and additional cleaning duties due to COVID-19, and at times, a very heavy workload. This has made me very appreciative of the support networks that exist at Nagle, not only for staff but for students as well. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms Mischa Westlake and the whole HPE Department for making this a memorable year and I thank you for your friendship. I would also like to thank Mrs Jo Clune and her amazing Learning Support Department for making me feel a part of your team, and lastly I would like to thank the fantastic Maintenance Department for always giving me a helping hand and teaching me some valuable life skills.
I have learnt many things that I will take with me for my future studies and am extremely grateful for the special relationships I have built with the awesome students of Nagle and I will miss seeing them each day. For any students considering a Gap Year position at Nagle, I would thoroughly recommend this as a wonderful learning opportunity that provides a safe and welcoming environment for you as you begin adulthood. I wish Kayley King all the best for next year as I pass her the “HPE Gappy Baton” for 2021.