Kwinana Industries Council (KIC), through the KIC Education Partnership, presents a program that provides Year 10 male students with the opportunity to explore and understand the breadth of industry in the Kwinana Industrial Area and the broad range of career options available.
This year Benjamin Odlin and Samuel Jones were selected to take part in this program and below are their thoughts of their experience on the iMEN Project.
A huge congratulations also goes to Benjamin Odlin who was awarded one of the two Leeuwin Scholarships on offer. Throughout the six day IMEN Project the boys are assessed on how they interact with others, deal with change, take responsibility as a leader and work in a team. Debbie Hoey who coordinates the iMEN Project was very impressed by the growth shown by Ben in all of those aspects over the course of the six day program. Ben will board the tall ship STS Leeuwin II for a six day voyage from the 18-24th June. Whilst on board Ben will get to experience sea life on a tall ship and have the opportunity to meet new people, climb the mast (which Ben said he was really looking forward to) and taking the helm. We look forward to hearing from Ben and seeing photos of his adventure on the high seas.
Interview with Benjamin Odlin:
What was your best experience?
Meeting everyone and getting to know all the guys. I made some pretty good friends.
What surprised you the most about the iMEN Project?
How broad industry was. I thought it was only one thing. Many different jobs/pathways in the same area.
What was your biggest fear before beginning the iMEN Project?
What was it going to be like? I thought if I didn’t like it it would be a bad experience and I would have to stick with it.
What was one thing the iMEN Project taught you?
It taught me how to develop better relationships with a lot of different people. I learnt there were many different areas in the workforce involving industry on the Kwinana Strip.
What career interested you the most?
When we went to BP their factory involved a lot of people working together to get the job done. At BP we interviewed a woman whose job was as an operator as well as a field and safety worker and this really interested me.
Would you recommend the iMEN Project to the boys in Year 9?
Yes, it broadened my view on the workforce and that Uni is not the only pathway. It opened my eyes to all the different jobs in the industrial area.
How did you feel winning the Leeuwin Scholarship?
I was very surprised to win the Leeuwin Scholarship. The Leeuwin Scholarship is another way for me to challenge myself by forming new relationships and learning new skills. It is out of my comfort zone and I am looking forward to that challenge as it will allow me to grow in ways I never thought possible.
Interview with Samuel Jones:
What was your best experience?
Probably going on the excursions to the industrial areas and meeting new people.
What surprised you the most about the iMEN Project?
That it wasn’t as bad as it sounded when I first heard about it.
What was your biggest fear before beginning the iMEN Project?
I had no fear only excitement, about doing the iMEN Project and meeting new people.
What was one thing the iMEN Project taught you?
It taught me how to write a resume and how to conduct myself in an interview, and what to expect from the interview. I was told in my interview that it would have been better to have a proper resume which I will make sure I do.
What career interested you the most?
Probably being in the labs at BP Refinery. I liked the idea of experimenting with different types of fuels.
Would you recommend the iMEN Project to the boys in Year 9?
Yes I would. It would help them with writing a resume, doing an interview and seeing what jobs there are out there. Also to experience working with people they have never met.