From the workshop to the classroom, Raf is ready to change career this year

From a mechanic to a secondary teacher – Gareth 'Raf' Johnsen has his sights set on a massive career change in 2022.

The CQUniversity student is currently in his final term of the Master of Teaching (Secondary) and is looking forward to putting down the tools and entering the high school classroom.

"I want to work in an environment where I'm contributing to a greater good beyond myself; the education and growth of adolescents'" he explained about the impending career change.

Raf has been working in the mechanical industry for a number of years and originally began a Bachelor of Business (Economics) almost a decade ago.

"I came back to complete the business degree in February 2020 as it was nearing the longest amount of time I could defer for (10 years)'" Raf explained.

"After completing the undergraduate' I drifted into mechanics again' this time with a family friend who was establishing a new workshop … the business was still starting out and the owner could only afford to keep me on part time' so I looked at my options.

"It was a good time for me to go back to university to complete my postgraduate degree. I wasn't working full time' I had just finished university after finally completing my undergraduate degree so I was already in an academic frame of mind – everything aligned nicely."

When deciding on education' Raf said he considered the likes and dislikes in employment.

"Some of my likes included working in a big team' seeing people and interacting face to face' problem solving' learning every day' and working with my hands'" he said.

"Some of my dislikes included lack of flexibility' doing the same thing repeatedly day in/day out and never getting out of the office.

"Given I enjoyed volunteering with the Sail Training Association' teaching mostly high school students – I decided that education was the right career path for me."

The Brisbane-based 32-year-old has been studying the masters full time and has fast-tracked the course by completing units in Term 3' allowing him to graduate just 18 months after starting in March last year.

Raf has majored in mathematics with a minor in business and said he looked forward to kickstarting his new career.

"I can't wait to get into the classroom and begin my new career as a teacher.