“MIT has helped secure a great career and give purpose and meaning to what I’m doing.”

08/05/24

Thirty-six-year-old Sam Wade has done many things since he left school twenty-two years ago, but it’s his current role as an early childhood teacher that makes him realise he’s made the right step.

The former builder and kitchen installer started tertiary study at age 33 when he was looking after his young daughter, Jessica, and realised that he needed a vocation that would fit around his childcare responsibilities.

“It also came about due to being severely depressed from a rough divorce I was going through at the time,” says Sam. “My boss – who’s now my best friend -- and my GP encouraged me to have a change in career -- both thought it would give me a greater purpose to live after losing everything.”

After starting on the Diploma course in 2020, he progressed rapidly through to diploma level and then on to the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, which he completed last year.

Sam found the early education environment supportive and friendly, and he soon became a role model for other male students. He credits Whaea Mary Moeke and Dr Sarah Probine with helping him to continue with his studies, despite experiencing challenging personal circumstances at the time.

“They reminded me why I’m doing this,” he says. “I’ve got something to give and I want to make an impact on the lives of others. Having the support of my daughter, my classmates and the teaching staff at MIT encouraged me to keep going and prove to myself that I could do it.

“MIT has helped secure a great career and given purpose and meaning to what I’m doing.”

Sam is currently teaching at Bumblebees Childcare in Whitford and working towards completing his provisional training, which is the last step before becoming a registered early childhood education teacher. He hopes to set up his own childcare centre within the next five years.

“Being a male student in a female dominated profession, Sam has been an awesome role model for all students over his time at MIT,” says Kylie Smith, Head of the School of Education at MIT.

“With a young child himself and a different career trajectory initially he made the brave step to come into tertiary education as a mature student, and his achievements speak volumes.”